It's been pretty nice here other than the rain, which I won't complain about ... LOL.

Seems the first freeze for San Antonio will be Sunday night. I have everything except two bougies and two macho ferns in the overwintering/green house. I'm waiting for their large pots to dry out a little before moving those.

Wishing you well on everything concerning your daughter and your new grand son! ,,, :-)

Congratulations to you and family on your soon to be new grandson. Please let us know when you have a safe return home and the new baby has arrived.

We have most of our small pots in the shed already. I'm enjoying the brief spell for warmer weather. I didn't know we would be have a freeze on Sunday. That means I'll have to cover up the plants in the ground today. I've been so busy with Christmas that I have not sat down to watch the news or weather. Thanks for the forecast, Roselee, lol.

Mara, is your tree a natural tree? Love the colors. We have a Charlie Brown Tree this year. Not planned, but we opened up our white tree from last year and it had turned brown.... bummer! We compensated by decorating all around the house! :-)

It is a natural tree. The cedars on my land are just to rangy . I tried one year to cut one down off the property but it was so wimpy I ended up tying three together to make a tree and I had to have a support wire to the ceiling. I got ribbed bad about that tree.

Thanks for all of the good thoughts around the grandson's birth. She just wants a girl and keeps trying :-) Yesterdays checkup found them both to he doing fine.

Roselee, sounds like you are ready for the winter! All of you really.

Mara, I love your tree! Red, blue and white makes a lovely statement! We have pre-lit artificial tree, I really need to hang the ornaments! Santa and the giant wreath are up outside. Jeff set up the villages inside. I hung some bells on the doorknobs and hung the door wreath.

MsRed Byrd, do you think it was heat (assuming it was stored in the attic) that turned your tree brown? That must have been disappointing!

We got down to 24 last Friday morning so the outdoor plants are looking like wilted spinach right now. I've been good about reducing the number of tropicals, only have 9 pots inside this year. Of course one is a 35 gallon pot with my Musa Rojo and one is a 15-20 gallon pencil cactus. Hubby hates the fungus gnats and I really try my hardest not to bring bugs in with them. Every year I dose them a week or two apart with Bayer Advanced. The past two years I tried sand on top and in the saucer to prevent the gnats but still had some flying around the computer monitors. A few years I tried fly strips, but after getting my hair caught on one, I decided that they were too hazardous.

We are headed for a deep freeze Sunday through Tuesday. Lows in the twenties.

PK, Yes, it probably was the heat that turned it brown, but it's all good. DH has already set it out as yard décor, lol. At night, with the lights on, it will look just fine. We'll be thinking of you... be safe and stay warm.

Mara, what a vision your story gives me.... lol. Love your story of Christmas past! ;-)

The yo yo weather has caused both the roses and eggplants to put on new growth in the pas few weeks. I'm not sure that is good for roses at this time of year but I don't think there is anything I can do about it.

Best wishes to your daughter on the upcoming baby!

PK- Congratulations on the new grand baby! Fingers crossed he'll wait a little longer to make an appearance.

I was walking around last night looking at things that shouldn't be blooming now and shaking my head. It's been a weird fall. I even noticed a squash growing (I think it's where I threw a butternut squash out) where the compost pile had been before I moved it. It must be pretty protected because even the low 30's we had didn't seem to faze it. Weird.

Plan to cover the meyer lemon tree this weekend. Haven't had to the last few years and it only got a little nipped a little bit. But with the recent temperature swings and a 40 degree drop expected on Saturday I think I'll give it a little extra protection.

Stay warm everyone!

Lisa

Silas was born in the early hours of December 26. Although only a 37 week fetus, he was 7 lbs 10 oz and almost 20 inches long (Dad is really tall). He's battling breast milk jaundice but they get to take him off of the bilirubin lights today. Yay! Other than the jaundice he is perfectly healthy. I am back at home after spending time with the family and there is truly no place like home.

Planning yard work today since we are supposed to get to near 70 and the sun is out this morning. Fingers crossed that this is the last batch of fall leaves of the season. This is the fourth cleanup of the season. Most of the trees are bare. We have two trees, one post oak and one black jack oak that just hold their leaves forever. I don't know why only those two (of 20 trees) do that since there are other similar sized post oak and black jack oak trees that always shed their leaves.

Congratulations on your healthy grand babe. It sounds like he waited long enough.I am sure the relief is overwhelming. Enjoy your garden today . it is overdue.