"1-Year Anniversary of the Historic Drought:
Saturday will roughly mark the one-year anniversary of our current historic drought. It was at the beginning of October of 2010 that rainfall generally turned off across the area, starting what would end up being the driest year in Texas history."
I cut and pasted the quote above from Bob Rose's weather blog. We had the rain "turn off" around here last October and now we have wild fires instead with no end in sight fo this drought. My back yard has bare dirt and rocks in most of it. I haven't mowed any of it in months. Just used a weed eater to knock down some high grass here and there.
We spent 200 for water in August and have only barely been able to keep some of the flower beds alive. If we weren't on a septic system there would be no grass at all out back. Trees are stressed out and some are dying. We have a lot of trees and lost a number already through the last few years. Losing more will just be sad.
I first came to Texas in 1971 and have been right here in Austin for 22 + years. But I don't care for living in a desert, so we may look for greener pastures elsewhere. Of course others are being washed away by historic flooding. :rolleye:
Is there any water in the lakes Danny?
Tis a shame. I remember Austin as being surrounded by wildflowers in the spring.
We're up in D/FW (Dallas/Fort Worth) which is a about four hours away from Dan in Austin. Rain here has been pretty sparse this year, though we have had a couple nice showers within the last month (one just two nights ago). My lawn was prettier than ever this year. Thick St. Augustine that looks like carpet, but my garden didn't like the heat so much. All my tomato plants bit the dust, as did my herb garden; but I'm just now starting to get some jalapenos here at the end, and we have had some very nice cucumbers. We got put on watering restrictions about a month ago here.
The Austin area is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better city, culturally, and I've always found it to be a very clean city. And you'll see more runners there than anywhere in the world. I've always said I'm not in good enough shape or good-looking enough to live in Austin.
:wave
Quote from: Randy_R on October 01, 2011, 08:08:04 AM
Is there any water in the lakes Danny?
Tis a shame. I remember Austin as being surrounded by wildflowers in the spring.
The lakes have really shrunk. Travis is our big one and it is way low now. The last I heard was only one public boat ramp still functioned.
We are on stage 2 water use restrictions now as well. (once a week for the lawn)
Quote from: the creature on October 01, 2011, 08:35:41 AM
We're up in D/FW (Dallas/Fort Worth) which is a about four hours away from Dan in Austin. Rain here has been pretty sparse this year, though we have had a couple nice showers within the last month (one just two nights ago). My lawn was prettier than ever this year. Thick St. Augustine that looks like carpet, but my garden didn't like the heat so much. All my tomato plants bit the dust, as did my herb garden; but I'm just now starting to get some jalapenos here at the end, and we have had some very nice cucumbers. We got put on watering restrictions about a month ago here.
The Austin area is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better city, culturally, and I've always found it to be a very clean city. And you'll see more runners there than anywhere in the world. I've always said I'm not in good enough shape or good-looking enough to live in Austin.
:wave
I saw the DFW getting some rain from the cold fronts and thunderstorms. We just keep missing out on everything.
It's very nice outside here today. Feels like high 70's or so. I'm going to get out today and kick the soccer ball with my children. Work off some of this gut. :donut
Quote from: the creature on October 01, 2011, 09:36:19 AM
It's very nice outside here today. Feels like high 70's or so. I'm going to get out today and kick the soccer ball with my children. Work off some of this gut. :donut
We had 90 days this year at 100 or higher. We broke so many records it's unbelievable, but it has cooled down the last two days and we are only getting to the 90's now. This week the forecast was 90 something on a few days , but it would end up at 103 etc.
After 25% of this year (so far) above 100 degrees, 90 feels nice.
I just looked up our local rainfall this past year, it was only 11" Our normal is 35"
Where I live we have had quite a bit of rain this year. I do pray God will send Texas showers of blessing in the very near future! Water is so essential to our life on this planet.
Quote from: dependan on October 01, 2011, 05:28:26 AM
I first came to Texas in 1971 and have been right here in Austin for 22 + years. But I don't care for living in a desert, so we may look for greener pastures elsewhere. Of course others are being washed away by historic flooding. :rolleye:
Sell everything but two of your favorite guitars, have your wife do likewise with her favorite things, buy a real nice motorhome or truck and 5th wheel and travel to were it's green. If bad weather is heading your way you just unhook from whatever camping area your in and move to where the weather is nice. See the country, meet some nice new people (maybe some more forum members), visit some nice music stores, and generally have the time of your life.
If you decide to leave the country or go on a cruise, you can park it at your kids place and have them take you to the airport.
I'd do that, problem is if I sold all my stuff I could travel maybe one or two years then I'd be broke.
Quote from: Mr_LV19E on October 01, 2011, 05:51:26 PM
Sell everything but two of your favorite guitars, have your wife do likewise with her favorite things, buy a real nice motorhome or truck and 5th wheel and travel to were it's green. If bad weather is heading your way you just unhook from whatever camping area your in and move to where the weather is nice. See the country, meet some nice new people (maybe some more forum members), visit some nice music stores, and generally have the time of your life.
If you decide to leave the country or go on a cruise, you can park it at your kids place and have them take you to the airport.
I'd do that, problem is if I sold all my stuff I could travel maybe one or two years then I'd be broke.
We have talked about doing this very thing. At least for awhile, until we decide where to stop for a longer period of time.
My family and I took an 18-day RV vacation last year and got a chance to see what this kind of life would be like. I think it would be pretty tough, not having a place to call home. I don't just mean a house, but a town, a community, etc. It all seems very romantic on the outset, but once you're on the road it seems like life is going on everywhere and all you're doing is watching. Of course that might change given some time, but that is what struck me during our vacation. Plus I couldn't get used to the small shower.
:coffee
Quote from: the creature on October 02, 2011, 08:59:19 AM
I think it would be pretty tough, not having a place to call home. I don't just mean a house, but a town, a community, etc. It all seems very romantic on the outset, but once you're on the road it seems like life is going on everywhere and all you're doing is watching. Of course that might change given some time, Plus I couldn't get used to the small shower.
:+1: That to is what was running thru my mind. And as you state maybe that would change as we pass thru another stage in life
Quote from: the creature on October 02, 2011, 08:59:19 AM
My family and I took an 18-day RV vacation last year and got a chance to see what this kind of life would be like. I think it would be pretty tough, not having a place to call home. I don't just mean a house, but a town, a community, etc. It all seems very romantic on the outset, but once you're on the road it seems like life is going on everywhere and all you're doing is watching. Of course that might change given some time, but that is what struck me during our vacation. Plus I couldn't get used to the small shower.
:coffee
I have done a LOT of road trips, cars, trucks, Motorcycles and life never just goes on around me, I always enter in some way. Culture and people have been a big interest of mine for a long time.
Quote from: the creature on October 02, 2011, 08:59:19 AM
My family and I took an 18-day RV vacation last year and got a chance to see what this kind of life would be like. I think it would be pretty tough, not having a place to call home. I don't just mean a house, but a town, a community, etc. It all seems very romantic on the outset, but once you're on the road it seems like life is going on everywhere and all you're doing is watching. Of course that might change given some time, but that is what struck me during our vacation. Plus I couldn't get used to the small shower.
:coffee
By family, I assume there were kids along. This only works for retired couples that enjoy each others company and enjoy meeting new people. Ideally you are staying where the weather is nice so there is no need to spend too much time inside. A fifth wheel would be nice so you have a truck to get around after you park your home. Obviously this life style is not for everyone, especially hoarders. :laughin:
Has there been a drought like this in that area before Danny? I've seen dry summers with many weeks without rain, but a whole year without rain? That would be really scary where I live!
The most important mineral is water. Global warming is causing many unusual weather events right around the world. What will it take for us all to really wakeup and realise that planet earth is in trouble and the window of opportunity to fix the problem is very narrow?
Quote from: Denis on October 02, 2011, 04:07:35 PM
Has there been a drought like this in that area before Danny? I've seen dry summers with many weeks without rain, but a whole year without rain? That would be really scary where I live!
We not only have the driest period in Texas recorded history, we also had the Hottest temperatures ever recorded for ANY state ever this year.
Quote from: carruth on October 02, 2011, 04:21:08 PM
The most important mineral is water. Global warming is causing many unusual weather events right around the world. What will it take for us all to really wakeup and realise that planet earth is in trouble and the window of opportunity to fix the problem is very narrow?
Not saying you are wrong, but tell that to all the folks flooded out of homes and farms in the Mississippi river valley and on the east coast this year. This has nothing to do with POLITICS so please don't take it there.
We all have fire and rain to deal with everyday of our short lives on this earth.
Quote from: carruth on October 02, 2011, 04:21:08 PM
The most important mineral is water. Global warming is causing many unusual weather events right around the world. What will it take for us all to really wakeup and realise that planet earth is in trouble and the window of opportunity to fix the problem is very narrow?
Genuinely curious here: what exactly can human beings do to make it rain?
Quote from: the creature on October 03, 2011, 12:00:04 PM
Genuinely curious here: what exactly can human beings do to make it rain?
Apparently cloud seeding with chemicals to cause raindrops to form kinda works. But requires moisture laden clouds to be present.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_seeding
Changing ground temperatures and amount of moisture in the air will change the way and places it might rain. Large cities have been known to change weather patterns on a small scale.
With the HIGH pressure area parked over us this year we didn't even have much cloud cover. The sun was brutal at times.
Debate about climate change is good. Mankind has put so much carbon into the atmosphere that it is effecting the weather around the planet. For example, hurricanes and typhoons are getting stronger and causing more damage. A hurricane is natures way of spinning heat off the planet. Texas is experiencing climate change. This is not a political argument. It is a scientific argument.
Quote from: carruth on October 03, 2011, 03:12:10 PM
Debate about climate change is good. Mankind has put so much carbon into the atmosphere that it is effecting the weather around the planet. For example, hurricanes and typhoons are getting stronger and causing more damage. A hurricane is natures way of spinning heat off the planet. Texas is experiencing climate change. This is not a political argument. It is a scientific argument.
Oh come on. Please stop. I don't want to see yet another polarizing thread and then have it locked down. This IS a huge political football and it doesn't matter to me which side who is on. I just hate all these issues that get members blood boiling.
Quote from: dependan on October 03, 2011, 05:10:47 PM
Oh come on. Please stop. I don't want to see yet another polarizing thread and then have it locked down. This IS a huge political football and it doesn't matter to me which side who is on. I just hate all these issues that get members blood boiling.
agreed. the purpose of this thread wasn't to start a debate.
Wish you could have some of the rain we had over the last week. Here is a little Vid of wind and rain a few days ago about 100miles from my home :blush:
Waves and Rain in Nova Scotia at Cape Breton Causeway (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=228771410514586)
We had a small amount of rain today, but we are supposed to get a heavy rain starting at about 1 A.M. I sure hope we do.
DFW area getting some rain tonight. C'mon Tigers!
Quote from: JOYCEfromNS on October 08, 2011, 10:07:03 AM
Wish you could have some of the rain we had over the last week. Here is a little Vid of wind and rain a few days ago about 100miles from my home :blush:
Waves and Rain in Nova Scotia at Cape Breton Causeway (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=228771410514586)
Wow that video does not look fun. It must have been like getting your car power washed by the ocean!!
It's been raining all night and all day here in DFW.
Quote from: the creature on October 09, 2011, 11:01:09 AM
It's been raining all night and all day here in DFW.
We have had quite a bit as well and more is in the forecast today. I hope we do get more.
Yep, guess the world can end later.
Delighted you finally got some rain. :nanadance :nanadance :nanadance
Quote from: JOYCEfromNS on October 08, 2011, 10:07:03 AM
Wish you could have some of the rain we had over the last week. Here is a little Vid of wind and rain a few days ago about 100miles from my home :blush:
Waves and Rain in Nova Scotia at Cape Breton Causeway (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=228771410514586)
:ohmy:
Quote from: dependan on October 10, 2011, 11:11:12 PM
Roger how are things up in Mishheeeeguunn?
Well it only got to 71F today but the last 4 or 5 days have been in the 80's. No real rain but we're supposed to get some starting tomorrow night, 3 days worth 40-60% chance.
Not much into sports but appreciate when the home town teams are doing well, which they are.
Quote from: Mr_LV19E on October 10, 2011, 11:43:34 PM
Well it only got to 71F today but the last 4 or 5 days have been in the 80's. No real rain but we're supposed to get some starting tomorrow night, 3 days worth 40-60% chance.
Not much into sports but appreciate when the home town teams are doing well, which they are.
My long time friend who lives near Detroit has a 91 year old mother in her last days. I will go to Michigan when he calls again, (we talked today) When I do I plan on spending enough time to put faces to names. He is a bass player and a good one. I wrote a song that has his name in it. I sang the song in an open mic last week.
Let it rain.....
edit; my older bro. played football and went to MSU and UM in Ann Arbor. Of course I got my G.E.D. :ohmy: