Time to quit being bashful

[desertcat]

And introduce myself properly.

My name is Laura and I live in Amarillo, TX with 2 horses, 6 chickens, a border collie, a bloodhound who can trail her food dish on a good day, 4 indoor kitties and an absolutely wonderful and very patient husband!

I found my way here from BYC this summer...sure wish I'd come this way sooner. I grew up in a garden adverse family (they think I'm more than a little crazy for lots of reasons) and my own garden adventures until this year have been plagued with exotic marauders like wandering mules, oxen and the odd bunny or two thousand.

Last year we sold the ranch and moved to town. May I hear the Hallelujah Chorus please! Now I have 4 lovely acres with (for the TX Panhandle) lots of mature trees.

I will admit up front that I am not very good with pictures, but DH has promised that if I take them, he'll help me get them on the computer.

Anyway, thank you all for making such a welcoming place to come and hang out.

 

[injunjoe]

Very nice intro.
Welcome to the board.
Looking forward to the pictures.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First and foremost, welcome. Glad you are here.

As far as posting pictures, this link may make life a little easier when it comes to figuring it out. I'm fairly computer challenged myself but I can do it. Another hint. If you already have uploaded a photo you want to use again, go to Uploads and look in the bottom right corner for the "My Uploads" button.

How to post pictures/avatar
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26838

 

[Greensage45]

Hi desertcat,

Welcome to TEG!!

I had lived in Amarillo before (82-84). I seriously cannot imagine a harder winter in my life. The ice would come in sheets across the roads, signs, and trees.

I even remember noticing that all the trees in Amarillo lean to one direction because of the winds there.

I do remember Palo Duro Canyon....such a lovely place, and Lake Meridith (sp?) I swam the entire lake once!

In the 18 months I lived there, I slept through one major tornado, and was witness to some Godly Weather; for instance the hail in the summer when the skies turn green! Yikes.

I think I might remember a nice day...sometime at some point! I can only say you folks are a Hardy Bunch and a Daring Bunch! The Panhandle is quite the challenge.

It was Amarillo where I first experienced the loss of direction! One day I was walking, and suddenly I realized the sun was directly overhead. I turned one way and looked...I turned the other way and looked....and as far as the eye could see (I was near the airport) I could see space...just the vastness of flat nothingless! Then it happened! I no longer could tell which way was North or which way was South; in all my life growing up in the Rockies I never had to worry about landmarks or anything. I was completely and utterly lost...and yet I was barely 15 minutes from where I lived!

You will have to let us know some of your own experiences, and although I am a biased to Amarillo, I am not biased to the folks that endure it! Please share with us your good days, your normal days, and your messy days....because that is what we do too!

And share pictures of as many flowers as we can!!

Welcome, :bouquet

Ron

 

[desertcat]

I have to admit, there are lots of other places on the earth I'd rather live. I've tried NW Montana, Santa Fe and even (hold on Hattie if you're reading this) Oxford UK, but I seem to be stuck here. At least the people are pretty nice! Actually, I've found great people everywhere.

Our weather, though is another story. Have to be truthful that this is probably the first winter I've ever looked forward to. No cows to haul hay to and no windmills to deice when normal folks are in front of their fireplaces. Shouldn't even have to drive on the ice if I don't want to.

And yes, our trees really to have a distinct windswept look. It seems like for weeks in the summer & fall we get winds from the SW at over 30 MPH. They always seem to arrive about time things are starting to try to grow. Ever seen plants in a convection oven?

So I'm off to go try to get some pics, it's pretty overcast today, but maybe the trees will show some color. I've got lots of apricots and I love the yellow their leaves turn.

 

[journey11]

I remember seeing ya around BYC. I know, I kinda stumbled over here from there too. Never paid much attention to the very bottom of the page where the link was.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi desertcat! Welcome to TEG

What were you doing in Oxford UK & how long were you here? Where you actually living in the city or one of the villages nearby? Excuse me being nosey....!! I live between Oxford & Aylesbury, near Thame!

This is a great forum full of interesting people with a lot of first-hand knowledge -- I love it. I'm sure you will too.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[Luna]

Hi Laura. My name is Laura, too.

I look forward to seening your garden pics.

 

[desertcat]

Hi Hattie

I was in Oxford the fall of 79- spring of 80. Was going to school at Warnborough College (is it still in existence?). I lived in the city and absolutely loved it. If I could have figured out how to support myself, I might still be there!

The funny story on ending up in Oxford is that after a winter of being a ski bum (the NW Montana segment) Mom told me that I HAD to go to school, but it had to be far enough away that I couldn't come home every weekend. Still laugh about the dead silence on the phone when I asked if England was far enough.

 

[desertcat]

Keep your fingers crossed. These pics were already in the computer so here goes nuthin!

My 2 miracle kitties...not to be confused with MiracleGro

The patio in June

Okay, that wasn't so hard (taking deep breaths) and yes, my fountain is a reclaimed cream separator. Should've seen the looks when I hauled it home. Suffice to say, it took DH a while to catch the vision. He thinks it's pretty cool now.