The reason we cover our veggies when it's cold

Here are 3 pictures of a bed of chard that Mark did not cover during this last week's cold weather:

Here are 3 pictures of a bed of chard that Mark covered with 2 layers of Agribon 19:

The uncovered chard isn't dead, but it's not very happy either. The baby chard in the new bed came through unscathed.

Weekly update 11/27/13

Good morning, My internet service has been quite hit or miss since the ice storm. I consider myself quite lucky in that respect. My heart goes out to all who have lost power or may still be without power.

I want to make mention that the garden came through the recent weather adventure quite well. Most all of the summer veggies are gone. I need to check under some AG 70 to see how some toms fared. I was truly surprised to see four Habenaro peppers doing quite nicely under several quilts.

Since my last harvest a week ago, there has been only one growing day since. That was last Thursday. The garden has not grown. I feel for the health of the veggies, I will not be harvesting this week. Deb and I will be at market Saturday with lots of canned goods. Presently the weather forecast is for a gradual warming into the weekend. I hope this will be true. After being at market last weekend, I think anything would be warmer. I hope to see lots of folks.

It is interesting how a winter storm and a phone call at 2:30 in the morning on a Thursday can reset priorities. This is the day I prepare for veggie sales. We have gotten phone calls from drunken souls but never a hang up and then a redial. Deb answered it and I mostly incoherent got up too. Funny thing about me, if I wake up on my own, I am up and full speed ahead. On the other hand if I am woken by say an alarm clock or a phone at 2:30 in the morn, I can’t find my way out of paper bag. Then throw in that the Sheriff's department has dispatched an EMS unit to my mom's house because her LifeLine bracelet has been activated. My brain was mush.

They asked if I could help with directions to her house in Terligua Ranch. Funny thing I know how to get to my mom's house but give directions? There are roads everywhere and I had no mileage or a map of how to get there. Luckily she did set up a 911 address for her place. I hope this is what they used to find her. Most likely it was the EMS guys just “knowing” the country. The best directions I could think of, was for them to go east from 118 on the Terlingua Ranch Road take a left at Cedar Springs road and take a left at sunset and you are there. Well anyway a chase vehicle went up to her house to fetch her. I have to say her road is a nasty rocky thing that I think rabbits would be reluctant to use because it is so rough.

At 3:30 the Sheriff's dispatch called me back that they had found her, transported her to the first paved road and put her into an ambulance. She was on her way to Alpine. Paved roads are another rarity down there. At least now with the Terlingua Ranch Road being paved. Pavement is 5 miles”closer” to her house.

Shortly after that LifeLine called and wondered if I had received a message about my mom and I confirmed. I asked them if they had My moms 911 address. All they had was the mail box out on 118. Probably a good 10 miles from my moms house. This was as useful as saying a compass points north. The Sheriff's department and the EMS guys are pretty Awesome. I told LifeLine I would get the 911 address for their records. This would save some one from having to look it up. It would be an understatement to say I worry about her living by herself.

She got to Alpine safely and was put under observation. Once the dust settled it was noted that she was having heart attach symptoms with very high blood pressure. Latter it was determined that is was anxiety for an upcoming surgery.

They held her over night and released her at 11 AM.

Our house has pretty thin walls and keeps “warm” enough for Deb and I. Through any winter storm, a north wind, and lows in the 20's, the house is hard to get warmed higher than the mid 60's, if lucky. This would freeze my mom. So at 11 AM we were doing a beeline south to her house and crossed my fingers that We could beat the incoming storm. Whew!! All's well that ends well.

Even though I knew market was going to cold, nasty, most likely breezy, and just a generally cruddy day, I was looking forward to being with friends, chew the fat, roast a few marshmallows and if we are lucky, we would sell a few veggies. Selling the veggies just did not matter. Like I said some times you need a priority reset.