Yeah, It's February, but this is the High Plains

[bffulgham]

Temps in the 60s on Saturday....the wind gusts matching the temps at times.....brown skies.
Sunday had temps in the 70s and a light breeze. SWMBO says, "It's too pretty to stay in and around the house". Picnic time in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. So, we grab a couple of sandwiches from the deli in the local supermarket and head for the Canyon....only about 12 miles from home.

Thought this guy was going to land on the table and help eat our sandwiches:
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We took a hike for a couple of miles along the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River and found the evidence of the local dam builders (have yet to see the construction workers, but there is evidence scattered around):
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The local not-so-shy crew (these are white tails. We saw mule deer on the way in at the top of the canyon):
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And, evidence of the local wrecking crew. The feral hogs are taking this part of the world over.
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There was a very light breeze in the bottom of Palo Duro. The temp down there was above 80.

Today, the high was in the 40s, overcast, and a light drizzle started about sundown (we'll take any moisture we can get). The forecast for tomorrow is temps in the 60s and wind gusts at, or above, the temps.

Gotta love The High Plains.

[joedw00]

It's hard to believe that this is February with temps so high. I just hope we don't have to pay for all this nice weather.

[friscomike]

Howdy Bud,

You are just up the river from me. I live on the Brazos near Granbury. Today was so nice that I put the top down on the MG, got the lawnmower ready for the spring chores, and cleaned up the shop a bit. Tomorrow I'll be smelling sawdust - I've got a pile of aged logs to prepare for the lathe.

Feral hogs are the only animal we can legally shoot where I live, and I keep hoping I can find a few out back to shoot with my black powder Hawken or 8MM. I'll be patient.

The cardinals, wrens, nut hatches, and sparrows are hitting the feeders hard, so they must be about to make babies. Ah, spring on the river. Too bad we didn't get a freeze low enough to kill all the bugs!

Have fun,
mike

[fiatben]

Been beautiful weather here in the Ozarks as well. Cardinals and other birds are everywhere. The deer have been crossing the yard by the pond every evening before dark. The squirrels have come out in force. Supposed to rain tonite and tomorrow, but back to sunshine on Wednesday. Need to see if the Spider runs if the weather is going to stay in the "top down" range. Meanwhile, making sawdust and feeding the shop cat.

[jm51]

It's hard to believe that this is February with temps so high. I just hope we don't have to pay for all this nice weather.

Climate tax?


Sorry couldn't resist.

[bffulgham]

Howdy Bud,

You are just up the river from me. I live on the Brazos near Granbury. Today was so nice that I put the top down on the MG, got the lawnmower ready for the spring chores, and cleaned up the shop a bit. Tomorrow I'll be smelling sawdust - I've got a pile of aged logs to prepare for the lathe.

Feral hogs are the only animal we can legally shoot where I live, and I keep hoping I can find a few out back to shoot with my black powder Hawken or 8MM. I'll be patient.

The cardinals, wrens, nut hatches, and sparrows are hitting the feeders hard, so they must be about to make babies. Ah, spring on the river. Too bad we didn't get a freeze low enough to kill all the bugs!

Have fun,
mike

Hey, Mike.

Susan, SWMBO, has a former mentor/faculty/friend in Granbury and I've got a daughter and grandkids in Stephenville. Susan's friend there has talked about the hogs tearing up the yards in town. I lived in Eastern NM over 50 years.....never saw a feral hog, but they are there now.

I was talking to a park ranger yesterday. They trap multiple hogs per week out of the park and are falling behind. He also ranches in the area. He traps or shoots 7-10 per week on his place and is falling behind. Two of the larger ranches have helicopters coming in soon with combined permits to take out 500 hogs. Hogs multiply like rats.

It's hard to believe that this is February with temps so high. I just hope we don't have to pay for all this nice weather.

Climate tax?

Yeah, Mother Nature has her way of making us pay:eek:

[joedw00]

You know what they say. If March comes in like a lamb it will go out like a lion.

[bffulgham]

You know what they say. If March comes in like a lamb it will go out like a lion.

Yep. Except in this part of the world, the lion roars in Feb. Mar. April. May....and the other months as well.

We're having to pay our "climate tax" today, I guess for the pretty weather sunday.

A view south of the house.
This isn't fog....it's dust/dirt/dried-cow-stuff (what little rain we got last night is long gone):
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Temp is about 70
Sustained wind at 30mph
Gusts above 50mph

[joedw00]

We are under a Tornado watch until 11:00 tonight.