A place rich with all the strange beauty of your nighttime dreams

Well we are deep in winter. Everyone has been surprised by the "sudden" cold. Parts of Texas actually had snow last week which threw everyone in a tizzy. The lake levels are still headed in the upward direction - we are now at 654, 2 more feet woohoo! - which is good for everyone. However, my backyard is a mudslide. My porch has a fine layer of mud all over it. Since I can't plant anything, I've decided instead to work out more on what is going where. I'm going to have to put mini-retainer walls here and there for example. Maybe I might be brave enough to put up pictures so I can have a before and after shot, who knows. I have found 2 interesting tidbits. There's a group here who call themselves the GardenPosse and they had a little workshop on making seed bombs. The recipe is super simple:
5 parts dry red clay*
3 parts dry organic compost
1 part seed**
1-2 parts water

*This is potter's clay which can be bought at Armadillo Clay & Supplies - 3307 E 4th Street.

** Use native seeds like a Texas wildflower mix.

Mix together dry ingredients. Add enough water to roll into balls, about a size of a nickel. Let seeds bombs dry for about 3 days before throwing/planting. Best to throw right before it rains.

We tried to get to there to make our own but when trying to get somewhere with kids, you don't leave to arrive there on time, you leave to arrive at least an hour early. If you leave to arrive on time, you usually get there just as everything is wrapping up which is what happened to us. They gave us some to take home and the boys planted them in the backyard in the corner I've been working on. I think since I'm not going to be able to dig and such, that I might start buying the supplies like bricks and things after the New Year.

Oh the other tidbit is that a neighbor down the street has turned his backyard into a working garden to the point where he is trying to sell off the extra produce. Hello! I had the same idea. Hopefully soon I'm going to go talk to him about helping me set up my backyard. I heard he was very open to the idea of helping others and am much excited by this!