Houston Ice and a day off school for the kids:

It was not BBQ weather today. Light rain turned to ice as it touched anything, trees, grass, cars and the BBQ.










The roads were icy first thing and the TV news reported a number of accidents on the roads. The School district announced no school for the kids.






Bird house looked like it was covered in Christmas decorations







Not all the birds survived the bitter cold temperatures






Temperatures reached a chilling 32 degress, and the bitter cold everything wilted, a sorry sight as the gentle rain fell and that meant that with wind chill it remaind a bone chilling 32 degrees......well...there was not actually any wind...








Well ok, 32 degrees isn't exactly bone chilling but it is freezing point and for Houston thats a big thing.









No Light in the gas lamp meant the ice could form over it.

















The palms in the garden all seemed to cope with the cold temperatures.

Houston,Texas, in the Winter....

The cool days and cold evenings create mist and dew on the plants

A contrast tot he warmth this year in Raleigh where there seem to have been more warm days that in Houston this December and January.

We currently await an ice storm that has hit the rest of the country but which might pass us. We will find out tomorrow.

Fog rolls in and eventually clears only to fall again at night and the temoeratures fluctuate from the 70's to the 30's.

The Winter feels in the middle of the day is like a cool Autumn morning in the UK.

Puddles from the rains create thick muddy areas.

Palm trees that suffered from some strong winds begin to rot away

Grasses shine golden

Oak leaves turn into fall colours in mid January.

Moss and lichen cling to the trees

Deserted Wasps nest hangs from the grey branghes on a grey day.

Flowers bloom as light drizzle falls.

Raleigh the end of another day...
View out of the hotel window.