Second Budding

 Before the deep freeze, trees were starting to bud, and it appeared Spring had arrived. The low temperatures, far below freezing, destroyed the buds, and some trees seem slow to recover. That, and the tropical palms, such as the Sego Palm, appear to be gone. Time will tell, but the date palms seem unaffected. 

Last year, my wife, and I, stored our bird feeders, since the Muscovy ducks found they could dump the feeders. That really disappointed my wife, since she loves the wild birds more than I do. We never wanted the ducks. A sister-in-law brought them to place them in the pond, and they bred a dozen more of what I consider pests. Instead of staying in the pond, they wandered and became a nuisance.

The Muscovy ducks left, except for one, and the one doesn't seem interested in the bird feeder. This allowed us to fill them again, and watch the birds arrive. I've been surprised. 

The Cedar Waxwings have arrived in dozens. I was ignorant of what they eat, but my wife discovered they flocked to the small terracotta feeder we keep full of sugar water for bees. They emptied it in a few hours, and my research found they can strip trees of berries during their migration back to the cooler climate of the northern states. 

I bought some blueberries, and some raisins, my wife but up a flat feeder, and I filled it to see if the birds would accept my offering. They did, and their voracious appetites emptied the feeder in less than an hour. So, realizing they could bankrupt me in days, I only half fill the feeder twice a day. This, I think, will force them to forage for insects, wild berries, and help fatten them up for their trip north. Heaven knows what they've been eating, because even insects are scarce at this point. The lack of them led to our bluebirds leaving, or their demise. 

So, the trees are budding again, the drab browns are being replaced by the brilliant greens of early Spring, and the temperature is increasing every day.  It's been more than nice, and the long range forecast has no freezing temperatures in store. Things are good, and I am blessed.

I Doubt They're Thinking

 At one time, the Democratic Party supposedly represented those that work. Trade unions looked to them to grease their palms with special considerations, and the same unions funneled money back into the party. The workers were in the dark, or refused to buck the system that kept them working with good wages. 

Now, the Democratic Party abandoned those they supposedly represented. To increase the injury, the unions that supposedly represented their craftsmen still funnel money to the Democrats, and the Democrats show their appreciation by destroying the jobs that pay the union craftsmen. Of course, the unions have had little regard to those that pay the dues, but now the money will dry up, and those that they betrayed will become even more angry.

Logic dictates you don't destroy the fields that feed you, but the analogy fits this situation. What do the Democrats hope to gain? Have the public sector, and teacher's union, reached a point where they will fill the gap of the lost trade union money? Do the Democrats feel they can control their destiny by sheer will, and those that allow their existence will simply fall into lockstep? 

That last election, as far as I'm concerned, was not legitimate. Too much evidence points to corruption, and the corrupt officials that preside are hiding their collusion in the process. If they had nothing to hide, they would have welcomed a review of the ballots, but they didn't. That only means dishonesty, and dishonesty in voting is a crime that should be punished by up to capital punishment. The results of an illegal election can lead to the death of some, so the punishment should be just as severe. 

Everything with current politics, and current officials, only points to a criminal enterprise that makes the Mafia look like children playing on the playground. It's unconscionable to allow this continue, and the best thing at this time is for the courts to refuse to allow the stonewalling of officials, and the severe punishments allowed by law to punish those that destroy records, or refuse to be audited. Will this happen? Maybe, but if this doesn't change, those that become desperate will not be destroyed without resistance.

Electric Bill

 I live on the East side of Texas, so my electric supplier is not part of ERCOT. Still, with the severe cold, I was wondering about my bill. I was relieved to see it only went up seventeen dollars higher than last month, which was average for this time of the year. 

Texans Can Blame The Feds

 The biggest problem with the loss of electricity in Texas during the big freeze was the EPA.  Texas asked to increase the energy output, but was refused. Otherwise, with the increased energy of running under full capacity, the lack of electricity would have been lessened, if not eliminated. To add insult to injury, after the failure of the feds to alleviate a foreseen problem, they compounded the problem by refusing to help Texas by declaring the result as a disaster. 

I don't know how many feel, but I consider this an act of war. The Biden administration is intentionally damaging Texas, and the Governor should tell them to pound sand, while closing off some pipeline going north. 

I'm Unwilling...

 ... to be a laboratory animal. Give it a year, or two, and the knowledge of whether this Covid thing is really something to worry about, and I might be willing to be vaccinated. Until then, leave me alone, and realize, if you're vaccinated, what do you have to worry about?