Our Houston Trip

My son showed us a few unusual things in Houston this trip. One was this recycle house. I’m sure your neighbors would love you to do this to your home. I wonder if it helps with the air-conditioning bill?

photo credit: CK Worley

He didn’t tell us where we were going next as we drove around town so it was a big surprise to pull into this parking lot filled with Presidents heads and 36 foot statues of The Beatles! It’s located just off Katy Freeway. Forty-four U.S. Presidents and the Fab Four created by sculptor David Adickes.

photo credit: CK Worley

Here's me a T.J.

photo credit:Robert Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

We had a great time at HopDoddy Burgers. Named Best Burgers by Food & Wine Magazine last year.
Here we are waiting in line. It seemed like a long line but it moved fast and they walk up and down handing out water to everyone and that's nice.



My son had the Llano Poblano burger- Angus Beef, Pepper Jack, Seared Poblanos Chiles, Apple-Smoked Bacon, Chipotle Mayo.
My husband had the Terlingua burger - Angus Beef, Chili Con Carne, Corn Fritos, Tillamook Cheddar, Sassy Sauce. And I had the Greek - Lamb, Feta Cheese, Arugula, Pickled Red Onions, Tomato, Cucumber, Tzalziki Sauce. The Ahi Tuna burger is fantastic as well. (My daughter had that last time we were here)

photo credit: CK Worley

photo credit: CK Worley

The fries are amazing. My son loves the Salted Caramel, Nutella and Pretzel shake (made from scratch) but my favorite was the watermelon Mojitos.
The beef has no antibiotics or hormones and the sodas are sweetened with Fair Trade Certified Organic evaporated can juice. They bake the buns fresh twice a day (they even bake gluten free buns) again from scratch and buy local which is nice too.

photo credit: CK Worley

We had a wonderful time visiting with family but missed our daughter who couldn’t make this trip. Houston is a fun place to visit but so hot and humid and very flat. You’ll need to make a point of driving through River Oaks. Inwood Drive and Lazy Lane are two streets nearby not to be missed. Here you’ll find some of the most lavish real estate in the nation. Everything really is bigger in Texas!

Hey! What's wrong with my squash?

I was wondering why my squash looked so puny and then I read a Walter Reeves article on squash pollination.
Squash have separate male and female blooms on each plant.

Female blooms look like this -

photo credit: CK Worley

Male flowers look like this-

photo credit: CK Worley

Bees have to buzz in, out and about the flowers several times for successful pollination. If there aren't enough bees you’ll end up with squash that look like this.

photo credit: CK Worley

Or the blooms will just fall off the plant

You can help the plants along by taking a Q-tip and lightly shaking it alternately between the male and female flowers. The real question is, "How do you attract more bees?"

Grow colorful flowers and use organic pesticides. You can even make a bee box. I think you can buy them or learn how to make one at hardware stores that offer classes. Remember that bees need water too so keep your bird bath full of fresh water for them as well as our fine feathered friends!

On another note: We were in Texas this weekend and I don’t know if you remember the fires that they had out there in 2011 but this was what we saw of it as we drove to Austin. It will take years to get back all the vegetation that was burnt back then. Miles and miles of it on both sides of the highway. It's an amazing sight.

photo credit: CK Worley

Trees die from the top down

Mr. Smith of Smith Tree Service told us years ago that trees die from the top down. Here are some examples.

photo credit: CK Worley

This poor thing just isn't going to make it.

photo credit: CK Worley

You can see this one is dying. It also has some trunk damage. I don't think you can see it in this picture but it looks like a truck backed into it.

photo credit: CK Worley

This tree needs to be taken down before a strong wind takes it and all those wires down with it.

photo credit: CK Worley

This one looks dead but you can see the top is leafing out again. I think this tree got stressed from the cold weather and not being watered every day in that first crucial month after being planted. It looks like it's going to make it.

Once you know that trees die from the top down you'll start to notice them on walks or while driving. Now I realize that trees don't all die from the top down but the examples of this are all around. Take a look and tell me if you find any trees that look like this around your neighborhood.