I welcome January — Ordinary Time. The hustle and bustle of Hallowe’en-to-New-Year run now behind us.

Now it’s time to plan new ideas, and refresh old ones – get out a new note pad, select new pen colors for 2016 and jot down ideas.

Some of my ideas are:

1. What to write about next

2. Who new might want to contribute to the monthly RGVCTMN McAllen Monitor article

3. Continue thinking about forgotten projects after the weather turned cold and rainy at the end of 2015

First on my third list is to develop a garden for quail. I named it Quail Run, which is an area near the forest at the end of our property. It’s already used by a few quail, but sightings were less last year.

It’s important to name areas on a property. That way when an irrigation sprinkler head is compromised, I can explain the location to my husband. We have the Orchard, The Fairway, Bird Sanctuary, Pump House, Butterfly Garden, Lower Butterfly Garden, several more and now Quail Run at the end of the Fire Lane near the Forest.

I’ll develop Quail Run with seeds explained in an earlier blog: “Home Grown Quail Food,” after Christina Mild’s wonderful seed collecting excursion last year.

My biggest decision is how to tackle the guinea grass, Urochloa maxima, — weed eat, defoliate or just fork it out in clumps? If it warms up, the latter will be the quickest after these wonderful rains.

Last year after our seed collecting field trip, I tossed cat’s whiskers, Cleome gynandra, seeds out after removing guinea grass. One plant came up, went to seed, which I also scattered, and now there are five plants happily going to seed and continuing to bloom.

We’ve never been into our forest. Morgan’s a Texan, and says he’s not going back there! which gives me pause.

I think I’ll put it on my To-Do list for 2016. I’d welcome company. . . . Remember though, ticks don’t hibernate here — also an earlier blog: “Snakes and Ticks; Not a Rock Group.”

If you’re into writing, we welcome your 350 words of wisdom for the monthly RGVCTMN McAllen Monitor native series. Jolaine Lanehart is editor extraordinaire so don’t be shy if you think you can’t write. Most people think they can’t write. It’s a misnomer; most people can write very well.

If you want to give it a try, write something up as if you’re explaining it to someone in person. Talk it out in your head as you’re putting the words into a Word document. Easy Peasy. Enthusiasm sells.

Check out the previous ones that our awesome Webmaster, Jimmy Paz, magically uploads on the RGVCTMN Website under Galleries, then Articles.

E-mail me if you’re interested:  jjvanm@gmail.com

As you plan your goals for the new year, write them down somewhere. They will have a better chance of coming to fruition.