Spring is Here!!!

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Spring is here in Texas. As I journey across the countryside to and from work I have begun to notice the subtle changes that nature brings about. Brown grass turning slowly to green. Then of course there are those lands that are being actively cultivated. These lands have been taken care of by their owners/ managers and now sport a lush green carpet of short plants, probably wheat.

Texan corporations and land owners seem to have realized the importance of growing crops and not let their lands be used for grazing cattle only. For the first time since I landed here I saw crops being grown last year, of course the corn crop was a big failure because of the drought that engulfed Texas. Hopefully this year farmers wont lose so much and the crop will be successful.

Winter Creeping in....

Image via Wikipedia
This is the best time of the year in Texas. I love this part of the year because of the salubrious weather the region enjoys. Four months a year two after winter and two before Texans enjoy the best weather of the year. The remaining time it is either too hot or too cold to enjoy the great outdoors of this vast sprawling state.

Every year winter would start with a few days of incessant rain, but this year it has not been so. We got a day's rain about 10 days ago but since then it has been dry as ever. Perhaps the drought has not yet gone out of Texas. I wonder how the actual winter would be. Will we snowed indoors like last year when black ice dominated the roadways for seven days consecutively leading to numerous crashes and accidents. Or will it be the winter as usual with one day's snow fall and very little ice formation. I sure am hoping for the latter. I don't mind the rain, in fact I'd be happy if we received more rain, which would help recharge the aquifers that got depleted during the drought, but ice... no I am better off without it.

Photo n text from blackberry

It's raining in Dallas. This kind of rain marks the end of summer and the arrival of fall which leads to the freezing dry cold of winter.

This morning as I drove to class I captured some sights on my handheld's camera. Rian soaked roads, some public display artworks and trivia associated with Dallas area.

Looking forward to the summer!!!

When you live in a place like Texas which experiences extreme weather conditions throughout the year it is best to enjoy the seasons as much as possible. For instance the summers here are hot and sunny while the winters get cold and cloudy. During summer everyone gets outdoors and enjoys the lush green landscapes, azure lakes, bicycling, running, barbecue and a host of other activities. Come winter indoor activities, partying, concerts, dining out, movies, etc take priority.

A favorite summer activity is barbecue and pool parties. Last summer my friend invited me to his home along with friends to hang out in the pool and enjoy the weekend. When we went there the first thing I noticed was the beautiful outdoor furniture that was set up by the poolside. Elegant and comfortable chairs and yet durable for they had weathered two summers already and still looked and felt brand new.

The whole afternoon we spent in the cool waters of the pool, playing volleyball, and eating. Later as the sun went down and the day cooled off to give way to evening we sat down in the patio enjoying pleasant conversation. Here again the outdoor patio furniture was simply magnificent. When I get a home with a pool/ backyard, I would love to have furniture like this to enhance the outdoor spaces beauty.

Making Outdoors Comfortable

If one has to be happy living in the panhandle plains of Texas a taste of outdoors is essential. There is nothing much else to do in the plains except to spend time in the backyard enjoying the sunny climes and barbecue. To make outdoor spaces comfortable and worthy of spending loads of time there has to be great outdoor furniture. Since I live in an apartment there isn't much of a backyard or personal open space. Of course there are some wonderfully maintained public open spaces that are open for all the residents.

It is here that everyone has their barbecue parties, poolside parties, and summer cook outs. The poolside place is something I really like for two reasons. The first of course I love water and there is nothing more rejuvenating than a cool dip in the pool. The second is the fantastic wicker furniture in the sitting area of the pool. This is where we can sit and relax after few hours in the cool refreshing waters while the sun beats down in all fury during the Texas summer months.

Another place where I love the outdoor furniture seating is at my best buddy's place. His poolside furniture is simply awesome, both in terms of style and comfort. I look forward to this coming summer when I can enjoy partying at this place.

Fall Views of DFW

The bone chilling winds are blowing the already weakened clorophyll-shorn leaves off and the trees are starting to become empty wooden frames. Some days are sunny and bright but one can't step out and enjoy the sun light because the cold winds make it a virtual refrigerator. I hate the summer's searing heat but at least one can go out and do something... now the cold is frustrating because it imprisons us to centrally heated homes and cars.
Anyway here are some views of the fall in DFW area.

Colling Effect Settling In

I have been living in DFW area of Texas since the past 2 years and I have noticed that this place experiences extremes in temperature. Searing hot summers and freezing cold winters and there are transition months on both sides of the spectrum when the weather is great. Those 4 months of transition are the best parts of the year.

The way the transition occurs is interesting to note. Texas is also the land of tornados and thunderstorms. Being a praire land heavy winds blow across the region quite frequently. Summer disappears giving way into fall and winter by bringing in few thunderstorms. Until last weekend the weather was hot and almost inhospitable, even at 8.00 pm the sun would be blazing in the sky forcing us to remain indoors in air conditioned comfort.

Starting last Friday thunderstorms hit the region and it rained pretty much 24 hrs a day through the weekend and cooled the land. After a long time I heard myself say that rain is better than heat. I look forward to the next month and half when the weather will be pleasant and sunny with a little wind chill. Then the biting cold wave will sweep across the region forcing back into the warm confines of our homes.

The transition from winter to summer is similar too. There are thunderstorms to mark the end of winter and the beginning of summer. I prefer the change from summer to winter anytime than the opposite.