pod's blog: Different times

And I thought 2020 was different. 2021 seems to be an equal challenge.

Although I worked less, I worked harder last year.

This year is following suit with less merchandise available.
At the end of November, I tested for covid and passed the test. I stayed home for 2 weeks. Retested negative and returned to work.

Made it thru inventory and soon thru tax time. But once again the best laid plans are on hold.

January brought more snow than I recall in this area.







At the end of January, my sweet Annie was diagnosed with a malfunctioning epiglottis. I now know what is causing her problems. On Feb 2nd I realized it was too late. I had to put her to sleep. I am so sad as she was my sweetheart.





Then on Feb 3rd, I was walking Stretch who is vintage as well. It was dark and I was watching him but not where I was going. Slipped on gravel and broke my leg. Hobbled home, grabbed crutches and drove myself to the hospital. With a temporary cast and new crutches, I came home. Ate dinner late and headed to bed only to get tangled up with the sticky rubber on the crutches. I lost my balance and fell hard on a crutch breaking my hip. Stubborness made me wait till the next day to call EMTs and the rest is history. Both broken bones were operated on, the balance of the month in rehab and now grounded at home. Home health comes to continue therapy but being home is the best therapy of all.

I was saddened to peek into the greenhouse to see that I have lost the majority of my tropical plants. Our cold was down to single digits and stayed below freezing for an extended period of time. This second bout of weather brought more snow (but not enough to insulate) and a 24 hour period of sleet/ice. This wooded area of Texas is prone to limbs and trees damaging power lines. My home was out of power for an extended time. All was well but I sincerely doubt I could have prevented the loss in the greenhouse had I even been home.

Even knowing what to expect, I was in tears and couldn't assess what might have survived. The next day I ventured out for some two sided velcro that I use for tomato vines. I am using it to seal the garbage bag on my leg so I can shower. A shower is one of many blessings to be grateful for. Many folks in this area are still without water over 10 days later.

On this second trip to the greenhouse I noticed a few of the hardier succulents may be all right or revive from the root systems. I will deal with that later. As a believer in things happening for reasons, I will have to ponder the direction this will take me.

In the raised beds that I had planted for winter, I was delighted to harvest lettuce, mizuna, pak choy, radicchio, cilantro, endive leaves. It made for a delightful fresh salad, counted as another blessing. Most of these greens had managed to shake off the ice and snow.


The mustard will make a come back although the taller leaves were laid low. The Di Cicco broccoli is toast. The growth with the radishes, beets, carrots and peas was slowed but all will take off as well. The bed of garlic and multiplying onions show frost bite but aren't harmed.

I had jumped the gardening gun and planted a small bed of potatoes about a month earlier than normal. They had nice growth on top but the tops were pruned back from the freeze. I have no doubt the potatoes will be fine. Yesterday I saw a pop of green potato foliage coming back to assure me all will be well.

An interesting note on my lettuce, I had two types planted. Little Gem and Parris Island. I find that neither was killed by severe or lengthy freeze, ice or snow but Little Gem had frost bite damage on the perimeter of the leaves. The Parris Island is apparently more cold hardy.

I had started seedlings for tomatoes and of course they are history as well. Perhaps I can get my seeds restarted while I am off from work. The greenhouse will keep till I am in a mood to deal with it.

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