Thanks Dragon for the idea about the grape vines. I hadnt thought about those. They may get to heavy for our lattice fence tho. But might work great along back. I made jelly years back from mustang grapes, not very good. But wine, well heck thats worth a try.
I have two vines of a green grape and a red one on another fence I built just for them. So far they are doing beautifully. Last year they fizzled. I got them on the soaker hose route this year, so its gonna help.
Hubby and I proudly went garage saling and were given a ton of scrap plastic lattice and grey 2 by 4's. So hubby built me an entryway into the back garden that I have the joy of decorating. Climbing roses, I think. Lots of solar lanterns and maybe some odd Mexican bright colored iguana art peice thrown on for fun. Best part we have been wanting to do this for 2 years but it had to wait till we got bigger stuff done. so this falling in our lap for free was just awsome.
My spring break was heaven. Got so much planted. Bought as little as possible. rooted gobs of ivy and vinca to spread the love.
Painted and finished the bathroom. Its turned out well. We have ripped out the pink toilet and sink, replaced the rotted floors and built cabinets and all. Under 500 dollars. Tub is another 400 but its not in yet.
Texas is in a severe drought at the moment. Its terrible for March, so I managed to keep my fish pond alive with water stored in the rain barrels. But thats depleted, hopefully we will get enuf rain for a refill this weekend. Only 20 percent chance though.
The new fridge is a great step up, my eggs wont freeze now. We just cant seem to sale off the old one. Everyone wants an ice maker. Um not for 200 dollars, geez.
So Im gonna get out my soap box for a minute and just say, if your from Texas and you have kids in the school system take note....
I have lost my job, as has everyone in my department. They have cut all programs except math, science and English. They have reduced most to very unacceptable levels. Of course football isnt touched, this is Texas. Some things are just sacred.
But a program to help kids who are in the foster programs, providing them mentors, GONE. A program designed to get pregnant teens back on track. Gone. Anything designed to encourage college and future planning. gone.
I work for a very very impovrished district. I maintain discipline, which is now going to be handed over to an overtaxed group of teachers to alternately trade out on keeping during what used to be their breaks and conference periods. Class room sizes are going to sky rocket. Art, drama, choir, band and many like courses are cut in half and doubled up.
YET, none of the adminstartors are touched. We have 5 principals, and their jobs could easily be handeled by a lesser paid employee. but nope, they will just pay minimum to an aide or secretary and give them twice as much work as they had before to cover the lowered body count.
So here's the rub, unemployed teachers go on unemployment. Enjoy paying for that. Less employess mean less help for the kids. Many of our kids who come from horrible homes will now fall threw the cracks and become uneducated and the easy way in this town is to become dealers and users. So guess who is picking up the tab for our increased prison pop?
What to do? what to do?
I'm going to pick up a job that will make me enuf cash to buy out of this area, move and live on as little as I can. This area is a crap hole. It will now become a festering cess pool of drugs and violence. You cant put these kids back on the streets and not give them any hope. The wealthier population will do great, they succeed in the typical classroom. But we are talking about a 90 percent poverty level. What happens when these kids show up for breakfast, dont go to class cus its "stupid" translates to I cant keep up. And then they show back for lunch then go home. In between you have kids with nothing.
Parents, if they even have them are too busy working, raising the other kids or just gave up on the troubled teen so they are of no use.
It is a sad sad time for Texas. We have failed our future generations.
:lol :
Oh well. 
