Simple Eye

Continued from last post...

2006-08-25T12:21:00.000-05:00

Thank you Blogger for the interuption...
Anyway, even Dottie got into the Luau fun

Getting back to the summer recap...we're still hoping to take a small excursion in the RV we just got, maybe to a lake or river spot or maybe even the gulf coast. The summer has been so hot in TX (last 3 weeks-every day in the three digits) that we are desperately looking toward some cooler temps and ANY kind of rain.

Your first assignment is...

2006-08-24T10:21:00.000-05:00

Remember how the first assignment when we went back to school included some variation on the theme..."what did you do this summer?" Well here it is...

I do enjoy the kids being home for summer but I must admit the peace of being alone is extremely refreshing. They just went back a couple days ago and already I feel 100% more productive. Because I've been working throughout the summer we didn't get to do much vacationing but we did fit in some special activities.
The highlight of the season for us is always our summer Bible Convention near Austin. Unfortunately the pictures all contained me and I erased them from the camera expeditiously. We all enjoy the hours of Bible talks, demonstrations, experiences and especially the Bible Drama. This year it was a reenactment of
1 Kings chapter 13. Very thought provoking. DQ and MC especially enjoy the fancy hotel and pool and exercise room. After 4 evenings of swimming and exercising they are ready to come home though. A fun side to the trip is seeing friends from all over TX that we only see during the Conventions.
DQ, the recently turned teen and I, planned a LUAU sleepover for her and her friends. I don't know who had more fun, her or me. We went all out and spent hrs on the internet getting ideas for decor, food, drinks, games, etc.
A centerpiece

Of course we did the limbo dance and competed at hula hoops. Each of us had name tags with our Hawaiian names, (DQ and I are "Leikeli" and "Keli.") We made beaded ankle bracelets, did makeup and hair makeovers with "glamour shots"

The make up artist

and next morning we made a scrapbook with computer copies of the pics we took the day before as we sipped our pina colada smoothies.

After the make overs
For some reason blogger won't let me add any more pics so I'm posting this first then I'll post a couple more pics when I continue...

Creative Blockbuster List Friday

2006-06-02T08:17:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I am so busy that I seldom have time to think about or even be concerned about what's blocking my creativity. Actually, altho I'm not creative in what may be thought of as the traditional ways, I try to use everything in my life as a creative outlet. You know, "how can I be creative while I'm trying to fill up my property vacancies?" or "while I'm mowing this field, what can I create?" or "when I write this late rent notice, can I put a new slant on an old concept?" or "what creative thing can I plann for DQ and MC for this summer so I don't hear the dreaded 'I'm bored?' These may sound mundane but they keep me sane, (I think.) I can even look back at menial tasks with a sense of accomplishment which makes the monumental things really feel creative.
But, putting all that to the side, there are some things that really inspire me to be creative, even in the traditional sense. I think an important thing for me is to not feel stressed. Altho sometimes stress can be a motivator, ideally I like to be free of it. I do this in several ways:
1. Finish my list of "to do's" for the day. Not the whole week but start early and get the "day" list done. This means keeping the list "do-able" within a day. OR
2. Put on some music and belt out the lyrics. Especially Broadway tunes. It worked for Maria, from Sound of Music and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. They just burst out in song in the middle of an argument or while walking down the street, and they never look stressed. I just recently saw the Musical "Lion King" so at any moment I might be dancing around to the tune and words of "Hakuna Matata" like I was strolling the Serengeti itself. (This also works with a song from Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody or We are the Champions.) Once the stress is gone-creativity can flourish easier.
But, a single thing that really has brought out the creative juices in me is reading about others' endeavors at it in their blogs. Whether it's the creative outlet of writing and journaling, creating with your hands through sewing, quilting and pottery, drawing or painting, gardening, the art of raising children or being financially creative on a budget, one of your blogs has inspired me. From the smooth lines and bright, crisp colors of her paintings, witty banter and amusing illustrative stories and emotional, thought provoking musings of Mrs. Pom to the beautiful handiwork and family stories of a Soul Sistah, to an illusive blackbird from Tuvalu who is so gifted at making the everyday matters of life a creativity in and of themselves to the currently vacationing Mistress of Merryville and her beautifully Victorian images and a garden of fancy as well as the often deep, always honest and insightful and sometimes even refreshingly politically incorrect, essays of the beautiful Eldonna. You are some of the inspirations to me that keep me feeling creative. I send a humble Thank you.

2006-05-20T17:40:00.000-05:00

Palabras de ?Sabiduria? to the Princess

2006-05-20T15:38:00.000-05:00

This weeks List Friday Challenge from Mrs Pom:
***She, "the Princess Graduate," could use a good list of reasons to be glad that college is over and life is beginning.
So for List Friday, please write a list of sound/funny/silly/advice for college graduates. What would you do again or wish you had done or would never do again?***

Well, much of what I did worked OK for me but I don’t know as I would advise others to follow my course. Obviously, if I knew then what I know now there would be much done differently but I will say that I learned many valuable lessons from the paths I chose. So, without further ado I will attempt to compile a list of “winsome, witty AND wise” things that I could have benefited from hearing upon graduation from college.

1. Don’t rush into anything. There’s plenty of time. Since you have the benefit of a peaceful home, use it to meditate on the possibilities available to you without having to be immediately immersed into the stress of supporting yourself and adjusting to a new life all by yourself.
2. If there is a significant other in the picture, consider carefully how much they affect any long-term decisions you make. (I did not do this.)
3. If you have any dreams, don’t feel they need to be fulfilled overnight but think about them and what direction you should be pointed in order to get there some day. In my case, I didn’t have any dreams that I was aware of. (Sounds like I was sort of shallow, huh?) In retrospect, though, my dream was to be self-sufficient, not having to depend on others for anything. Unconsciously I sauntered toward that end and eventually felt pretty self-sufficient- only to realize that maybe that really wasn’t my dream after all. Depending on others is an art I have only recently discovered the benefit of. (Even though you can do something "better" doesn't mean someone else doesn't have anovel slant to the task, right?) Still trying to cultivate the ability to practice this quality.
4. Until 20 years ago I didn’t realize either, the value of having God involved in all my decisions. I believed in God and was brought up to know the difference between right and wrong but when it came right down to it-when I would consider my steps- I didn’t even have a fleeting thought as to how God would feel about it. Often I made good decisions by chance but could have alleviated much heartache if I meditated on how my actions would affect God.
5. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
6. Attempt to be balanced.
7. Listen to all opinions but follow your own after careful thought.
I just read some of the other lists and wish I had read them when I graduated. I'd like to read a list from Mrs Staggs whose insight I adore. And Mrs. Pom...your advise is as sage and practical and at the same time feeling and loving. Maybe different advise than what you may have given when we made the step to graduation ourselves but I sense the same qualities behind the words.

Bloomin' List Friday

2006-05-12T10:20:00.000-05:00

There's no way to keep this list to ten. Mrs. Pom evidently was in the same quandry so decided to expand her list. I don't even know if I have only one favorite TYPE of garden. I do love those Victorian cottage gardens but am always drawn to the impossible to duplicate beauty of a Japanese garden. Then there's the geometric uniqueness of the English garden complete with topiary and loaded with round and square box elders.
I get particular joy from flowers that are difficult for me to grow. They have differed over the years as varied climates I've lived in changed the species that were difficult. However the dainty
Clematis vine is one I've always had difficulty with and each time they exude a flower from their delicate vine I get a lump in my throat.
Purple irises also thrill me, especially when they first begin to bloom and the little purple heads just peep out of the strong, tall stems. I also love the smooth, porcelain-like bark of the
Crepe Myrtle and it's tender clusters. Along around March, Texas splendor appears in the fragrant
Mountain Laurels. They line my driveway and the perfume is intoxicating every time you walk outside.

Receiving very honorable mention (no pics available) are:
Pansies, johnny-jump-ups, violas, with their perky colorfulness. The stoney look of
Hens and chicks. The fragrant, discreet flowers of the
Mock Orange shrub. The summer blooming
Fire Bush and it's red trumpet-like flowers and the papery bracts of the
Bouganvilla. And finally, #10, the tropical look of the
Hibiscus, in it's array of assorted colors and varieties.

I'm not at all sure these are my favorites but I do like 'em! And this list has done it's job because thinking of them has kept a smile on my face the whole time I've been trying to recall each beautiful one. Except for the moments, three to be exact, where the blogger program glitched and I had to start over.

List Friday

2006-05-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

Too busy to post this on Friday so here's my list on Saturday:
OK Mrs Pom, here's my faves from yesteryear:

(Remember that teen years are long and many changes occur from 13 to 19 so what I hated or liked at 13 often changed drastically when I was 19)

a tweed, green mini skirt. It first belonged to my MOM but once she grew into the size I have now grown into, she passed it on to me. In 9th grade I would wear it at least once a week but would have to roll up the waist once I left the house. Then I'd roll it back down once I got home.
cut off jeans and jean shorts.
Platform shoes, real high. I'm still only 5 foot tall so I still like high shoes, although now I prefer a thinner heel.
Clogs. I love how you can just slip them on, no straps to buckle or laces to tie. Am I lazy or what?
Danskin leotard, off the shoulder with no bra.
My SUNY college gym shorts. My daughter is still wearing them and recently commented on their deplorable condition. Not bad though for being 32 years old.
Peasant blouses and ruffled peasant skirts. I still like them.

I'll probably think of more later but that's all I can think of now.

Use What You Have

2006-04-26T06:04:00.000-05:00

Since April is "Use what you have" month, I thought I'd share what my back yard friends have recycled. This close up of their nest shows up beautifully red-speckled eggs.
Backing up for perspective you can see they've used an antique oil/gas can that I have displayed on a lattice fence as the nursery for the new babes. And here is the proud mom/dad Carolina Wren. They visit the nest daily while I watch from the window but I've never got a glimpse of mom sitting on the eggs. I hope to be a witness to the emergence of the babes and their first efforts at flight. However I also love cats and will have my work cut out for me trying to keep my seven felines from being curious about these new ones.

I Think Therefore I Meme

2006-04-18T12:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure how these memes work, if you need an invitation or not- but I'm picking this up from Blackbird and passing along my version.
I AM: busy.
I WANT: a house on the side of a mountain with a creek in my back yard
I WISH: I would stop aging.
I HATE: when people are presumptuous.
I MISS: being slender.
I HEAR: birds chirping and the fish tank water falling into the tank.
I WONDER: what my kids will do/be like when they are adults.
I REGRET: not having a relationship with God sooner in my life.
I AM NOT: a quiet person.
I DANCE: anything but the marangue (too much twirling.)
I SING: show tunes (to my kids chagrin.)
I CRY: seldom.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: calm.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: gardens, birdhouses, jewelry.
I WRITE: a blog for my campground, this blog(not very often) and 100's of emails.
I CONFUSE: many.
I NEED: an employee I can trust to spot me for a vacation now and then.
I SHOULD: think before I speak (rather, yell).
I START: each morning with a list of "things to do".
I FINISH: 25% of the list-more on a productive day.
I TAG: jamais.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

2006-04-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

Since I've been so busy with work I've barely had time to enjoy the explosion of spring blooms. RV'ers from all over Canada and the US have been bombarding San Antonio, which makes me happy but overly occupied with the mundane and unable to drink in the wonders of the season. Spring flowers and Spring birds are some of my favorite associations with the vernal season but the interaction with the growth process makes flowers so satisfying. I took pictures (no scent included, unfortunately) so I could revel in the things about spring that I long for all winter long. Thought I'd share. The TX drought has been very damaging to many of the wildflowers here but some have refused to stay entombed and others have been the beneficiary of the common household hose. A good imagination might fill your olfactory with joy. Wild Lantana (pungent, minty leaves)
Spiderwort (beds of these bloom in the midday sun but appear as mere grass when their purple heads sleep in the early morn and eve.)

A xeriscape succulent with summer-long lupine blooms. Don't know the name.
Most recognize these state of TX flowers. Bluebonnets sneak up threw the grass all over TX and the highways are loaded with large splotches of purpley-blue. I call this ranch cactus, grows right out of the rocks.
Even plain old photinias have an intricate blossom.
A lady Bank's rose. Not a very good pic but the little pink roses smell like heaven.
An iris bed just beginning to come alive.
A patch of scarlet amaryillis halfway thru it's short life of bloom. These aloe vera's bloom in yellow and orange but I prefer the yellows.
Not sure where this yucca plant got it's nickname but it's called Adam's Needle. This one's got a double bloom. Flowers are wonderful sauteed in butter.

Well, sorry, no tulips and I'll save the bird pics for another time. I apologize if I named a plant erroneously. Let me know if I have.

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

2006-03-22T16:45:00.000-06:00

I read a real simple poem today that really hit home with me. Thought I'd pass it along with my thanks to it's anonymous writer for making me meditate on my actions.

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too;

I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,

How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.

I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,

God's still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use,

but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,

You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.

He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,

you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small,

And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;

"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.

I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;

I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.

I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too,

and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

It's been said:

The word FAMILY means:

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

And that's all I have to say about that.

A Phenomenon

2006-03-21T06:56:00.000-06:00

Imagine this. You're a man. You were born in a relatively poor country where you were raised along with four brothers. You married early and had several children and at the ripe old age of 25 you left your country to go work in a more prosperous country to be able to support, not only your new family but extended family as well. Weekly, you western union to home a large portion of your earnings. You must be satisfied with only an occasional phone call to a nearby neighbor of your family, (sometimes a family member would be there) because your family had no phone. Once or twice a year you take a long bus trip back to your country to make sure your affairs are in order and the family is ok.
Now imagine that you were 25 a full 20 years ago and the same state of affairs still exists!
During the last 20 years-your spouse has died, your parents who took over the job of raising your children have reached their 80's and are now in very poor health, your children are in their early 20's with the exception of the one boy (18 yrs) who was conceived on one of the trips home and born nine months later, your daughter has contracted a serious stomach, heart or lung (???) disorder which the doctors in your country cannot diagnose, and just last week your youngest son was in a serious car wreck and is hospitalized.
To top all this off, these past 20 years you have been working in the same place, almost exclusively. The boss is generous at heart yet a very thrifty man because of his depression time upbringing. The job has taught you many skills making you a "jack of all trades," so to speak. This also means that the job requires both
the detailed skills of an electrician and the hard labor of a trench digger. You are THE maintenance person for an entire community of approximately 20 families and an RV Park on 200 acres, owned by your boss. Your only friends are different ones over the years who have lived here and gotten to know you.
You still don't have a command of the language of this country where you live but you have managed to get a little spoiled by the comparative decadence of it. At first you lived in a small modest shack that you built on your employers property along with at least one, if not all of your 4 brothers who also worked, off and on, for the same man. A few years ago there was a big flood which destroyed that home and most of what little you owned and you moved into a 20 ft, yes, I said 20 ft, motor home that was manufactured in the 70's. Usually only one brother stays with you now. Need I go on?
This man and I have worked for the same company owner for the past 20 years. Now that the owner has retired and I've been taking care of the business for him I have gotten to really know this man of whom I write. Tomas just turned 46 this month. Still having so many ties to his homeland, Mexico, he's retained much of it's cultural customs and attitudes while at the same time getting accustomed to some of America's "luxuries." Sometimes we frustrate each other but over all we understand each other pretty well. He's gone right now, visiting his son who had the accident. My prayers are with them. Whenever he leaves to visit home I am reminded of how difficult it must be for him to be so far from family and his roots. It would be impossible for me. This Phenomenon, somewhat common in the South, especially in borden towns, was difficult for me to fathom when I first moved here 20 years ago. I am very much missing his expertise in his absence. I take this opportunity to applaud his courage, endurance and sense of duty to his family which I very much admire.

A Texan Feast

2006-03-17T12:40:00.001-06:00

For dinner tonight we are serving a spinach salad with homemade ranch dressing and tenderloin from a "corn fed" year old doe, basted with real butter and our secret dry rub "kissed" on an open flame for 2 minutes 15 seconds each side, to perfection I might add. Bon Appetite!
Yep, Isn't your mouth watering. This culinary feast would be compliments of TT and LC.
By the way LC, "little cowboy" will here to for be referred to as MC, "Midnight Cowboy" to account for his new custom of coming home during that ungodly hour. Seventeen, as you might remember is that magical age when you suddenly incur all possible knowledge, (at least more than your parents could ever have,) and furthermore the age when the midnight hour is the BEGINNING of the evening. Needless to say some more explicit rules have been set, to the great disappointment of MC. Fortunately, to date, his record has continued to give us every reason to trust in his judgement. Unfortunately, we can't sleep if he's not safe in bed. Guess we'll keep him, especially since he's bringin' home some of the bacon/venison/fish.

Spring List Friday

2006-03-13T23:55:00.000-06:00

"So this week's List Friday will be two-fold:Please list the words you love that bring Spring to mind. Then list the words that you are happy to leave behind as the season changes. Ten of each if you can, or however many you can muster."
The Pomegranate Challenge of the week.
So, here goes...
The winter words
Some of these I'm happy to leave behind each year but some evoke a myriad of good feeling and memories, and yes, roll off the tongue like a Spanish "r."
First, the ones I'm happy to see take a hiatus:

Hibernate, the practice of the gopher, bear, frog, snake and bat. Although I don't miss the snakes or bats, the word sounds like something immoral
Blizzard, another harsh word with even a cold, windy sound to it.
Bleak, a cold, gray sky, offering no hope, chasing away all warmth by it's chill air.

Here are some winter words I like the sound and feel of:

Persephone, the greek mythical goddess partially responsible, so the myth goes, for the creation of Winter. Her name just flows with delicious smoothness.
Fireplace, a common compound word, but reminicent of so much warmth. Always a treat, the fire it holds is a center of many a memory of mine.
Wassail, An Old English ceremonial cider, warm and sweet/tart. It's etymology stems from an old saying rendered "Good Health," and imbibers of the sweet juice would hail "Wais Heal" (think I spelled it close to right) as a toast to their companions. An odd word but strangely soothing like it's sensation while desending your throat. Good with a little dark rum.

Now that those are done with, forthwith the spring words, pregnant with a feel of fresh, light heartedness. First there's a borrowed word from our forest friend Bambi...

Twiterpated, such a fun word to say. Bambi's friend, the wise owl says that it's the state of creatures of the opposite sex when the spring rolls around. A sensual playfulness which causes all else to pale in significance but the pursuing of an attractive, flirtatious mate.
Narcissus. Daffodill type flower, full of myth and unrequited love. Based on the grek mythological youth who pined away for love of his own image reflected in a pool and was transformed into a flower. They don't last long but a such a harbinger of spring they're impossible not to love.
Cicada, with an acsent over the first a. a pretty ugly bug with a soft name and a shrill, droning sound that sometimes gets so loud when the weather is humid, that you can hear nothing else.
Vernal (Spring)Equinox and Summer Solstice both sound unusual. I can't figure out why I like their sound, but I do.
Printemps, a french word meaning spring or spring time. I love french sounds, gutteral yet appealing. One of my favorite dishes is Fetuccini Printemps, filled with spring veggies and color. And finally,
Azure, as in skies. The word is so peaceful and halcyon, (another favorite sounding word) and conjures up a picturesque sky, with no end or cloud in sight.

Those are the words I like or dislike the SOUND of now here's some words that bring winter and spring to my little mind: (remember I live in TX)

Winter: (Jan and Feb)

rodeo
brown grass
bare trees
bonfires
toasted marshmellows (smores)
amaryllis
blooming christmas cactus

Spring: March-April

fragrance of blooming fruit trees
scent of Lady Banksia (sp) roses
millions of shades of green
birds building nests
Memorial of Christ's death (this yr. April 12) and the future hopes we have because of his sacrifice
mountain laurel blooms (perfumey)
the satisfaction of a garden renewed by bare hands
the smell of dew on soil

The ONLY thing I don't like @ spring is pecan tree tassels. They stick onto everything and it takes the whole year to clean them up, then here it is tassel time again.

Looking forward to seeing all the other lists so I can savor them too.

The Project

2006-02-18T12:31:00.000-06:00

Back in the old days when I was in school I never much got into projects...the essays, the poster board, the models, the science fair projects. But DQ and LC have a hard time keeping me off theirs. LC's latest project was career based. He had to choose a career and research it in every aspect...job description, benefits, salary, availability, training/education, etc. When he first told me about it I wasn't enthused to participate. He'd chosen agricultural engineering technician. What's that?? When you live in TX it's pretty common to belong to FFA, (future farmers of america)take forestry or equine science or ag mechanics in high school. LC doesn't do the FFA thing, showing your hogs, cows or sheep at the rodeo or state fairs, but he does like ag stuff. So his choice wasn't a big surprize.
I found out that I missed my calling. I want to design farm machinery and solve conservation problems and be able to fix my tractor. I could also save the forests, make food safer for consumption and invent a new kind of sprinkler for crops. Anyway, it was lots of fun and very educational to assist on the project. Unfortunately, I think LC was about as excited as I was at his age, faced with a dreaded project.
But thanks to computers and the internet...here it is complete with charts and graphs. All in a (50 yr old moms) days work.

"THE ESSAY COVER"

Show & Tell Lamps

2006-02-10T08:36:00.000-06:00

My lamps are all pretty humdrum so I decided to pick out a couple unusual ones I have. This first one I call Psychedelic. A little hard to see it in the photo but these blue tentacles emanate from the center untill you put your hand near the globe. Then all the tentacles gather toward your touch. Looks like a relic from my hippie days.

This other was a gift from a neat older woman (85 yrs old.) In case you couldn't guess, she likes bright colors. It doesn't really fit my decor but I like it in spite of that, or maybe because of that.

Our camera is with TT at work so I can't take any more pics but I also have one of the ever (used to be) popular Lava lamps.

Show & Tell

2006-01-28T16:05:00.000-06:00

Here's my HP. Took a while to take the pics because I had to straighten the desk a little.

Note the "Rear Window" behind it? Throught the lattice squares I spy some slices of peoples lives as I watch their comings and goings each day.

Close up

Printers and wires

By the way, I was one of those awkward ones who said they'd never have a computer or a cell phone for that matter. I wouldn't call myself a techno, geek or nerd but I sure don't know what I'd do without my hardware. I seldom begin a day without checking my mail, blogs and calendar.
Well. gotta go-I'm going on a date with my family (bowling) and my friend-girl with blue fuzzy robe who I am trying to fix up with this man. But that's another story.

Rear Window

2006-01-26T08:39:00.000-06:00

I was inspired by BB's astounding descriptions of her neighborhood regulars. Even though I live in the country I have the perfect circumstance to people watch and my neighborhood is totally "different," for lack of a nicer word. You may remember the 1950's movie "Rear Window," with James Stewart, well, I have a six foot wide picture window in my work office where I spend at least half of my waking hours. From it I can discern countless bits of trivia about the passersby. In this community there are anywhere from 100 to 150 tenants, some permanent, some temporary. At one point or another during the day each of these tenants must pass by my window and contend with, though usually without knowledge, my appraisal of their particulars. Not to mention the many looky lu's that drive through to see what's down this mile long private road to the community. For example, it is still early and already I've seen:

the racing teen. He speeds by Mon-Fri, in his thrice destroyed Taurus, with a look in his eyes that is a combination of unbridled determination and wreckless abandon. I've known him since he was 6 yrs old and it freaks me out that he is so grown. Not grown up, mind you, just grown. His driving to the HS each AM is a constant sore spot with my LC who feels he should also be able to drive instead of taking the bus...but I digress. Also by my window this AM has passed:

the red-faced, Irish lass. Several times daily she walks her poodle typed mongrel puppie, one of those dogs that's cute as a button at birth but quickly becomes one that even a mother couldn't love. A sweet woman with a heart of gold, a temper to match Beezelbub and the most delicious Irish brogue. I could listen to her for hours. Long white hair frames her perpetually ruddy complexioned face. And talking about odd couples (was I? anyway...) just pulling into his driveway is her husband of many years..

the pillsbury doughboy/skinny version. From Mexico, he works at a local bakery, odd hours, and I always picture him covered with flour and donut dough under his fingernails. Missing many front teeth, his appearance is a little comical yet he's a very serious family man, having raised 2 daughters, now in their 20's. I've learned to only stop to talk to this man if I have at least half an hour to burn, a very verbal fellow. Ah, there goes our community maintenance man,

Mr. " mucho problemas, Teddi. " (How my name sounds with a Spanish accent.) His actual name is one of those beautifully flowing Spanish names that rolls off the tongue like a musical note. The title I just alluded to is the most heard phrase when he comes to my door. After 20 years of living in the states and working here for the community he still speaks only broken English and I'm always in a quandry wondering if he really understands me or is just shaking his head up and down to appear intelligent. Much more to this man than meets the eye. Before meeting him I'd heard of people who came to the state to work and sent their paychecks back to their families but I didn't really believe people would do that. He has been doing this for much of the 20 years he's been here. He is provided a home here in the community as part of his income. Although I probably couldn't do without him he sure frustrates me at times. Being born and raised in Mexico he just has such a different cultural background and set of attitudes which often affects his work. Now, there goes an unusual couple out for their morning stoll, one of my RV customers just passing through town.

Manon et Serge. Those are their real names. A young couple from Quebec, they have bulit their own RV and are on a worldwide tour. Their website has a pic of the RV which now is additionally covered with written names of the places they have visited including Afrique.

The very first passerby I see each AM is the mom of a girl who waits at the bus stop with my son and I each day. I could think of some very cute nicknames for her but she is a dear friend and I'd only make those jokes to her face to make sure she knew their intent. One nickname she'd be comfortable with is:

lady in fuzzy blue robe. On cold mornings like today she wears a long flowing, royal blue, fuzzy fabric robe over her clothes, for her walk around the corner and down the block to the bus stop. Guts, huh? The funniest thing about it is that her 85 yr old dad, when he was alive, used to wear the same getup to walk from his home to the garbage dumpster and when collecting soda cans for salvage. He was a real site, one I'll remember fondly for the rest of my life.
At 7am this morning, a tenant who'd moved out, leaving his cousin to finish out the eighth year of his lease here, walked by my window. He's returned from his hometown of somewhere in Kentucky since his cousin has just suddenly died after a short bout with Lymph cancer. This man is the...

Wild hillbilly from hell. Hell being-not Kentucky- but a crazy military background and a monsterous drinking problem that had made him an extremely bitter person. He had rare lucid moments when he seemed much more human. His temporary move back to his hometown was a last ditch effort to change his life to one resembling humanity. I must admit that a recent discussion with him reveals many changes that I hope will continue to grow in him. It seems he may again be a resident here. His cousin often graced my window view and many affectionately know him as

the glory man. He could often be seen walking down the road with his arms swaying and pointed heavenward as he chanted "all the glory," as if to be praising and thanking a divine being for all around him. He was a beloved tenant who left many indelible marks on our neighborhood and our hearts-the "altars" he built out of stones and an assorted hodge podge of miscellaneous stuff, the effigies of, who knows, made out of twigs, curtain rods and the like, the endless kindnesses he performed, helping a man who had alsheimers remember his way home-every day, putting an extra steak on the Barbie to share with neighbors.

Just a few of the souls that have caught my eye this morning.

A Change of Life Story

2006-01-24T08:47:00.000-06:00

After reading Mrs. Pom's post of today, I decided to write this story. I've thought about telling it before but felt it was too personal and that perhaps a reader may label me after learning of what really changed my life. Despite that risk, here it goes:
My distant past is much of a blur. So many of the experiences I had I look back on in wonder, wonder that I am still alive. Not that I didn't put any value on life, just that I never thought about the consequences of my actions or decisions. I lived for 'today" with no care about tomorrow. Mostly due to shame and embarrasment I will not mention my foibles in detail but suffice it to say, it's a miracle I'm still here to remember them.
I quess I was 30 by the time I started to reflect on how the present would define my future. I got married, to a man with a similar crazy past and we tried to live down our mistakes together. At first we drowned most of them with mind-altering substances (another mistake) but finally we broke that chain of ups and downs and began to search. For what? I don't think we knew then but it was a spiritual influence that caught our attentions when we met a person of the Baha'i faith. We were facinated by the ideology of a "one world government." Simultaneously we got involved with several anti-establishment organizations which also advocated a new kind of alternative government. We became vegetarians, stopped tobacco use and although drugs were still a part of our life, they were much more under control, or so we told ourselves. We would have long conversations with our "mentor" (I guess that's what you'd call him,) about the theories associated with the Baha'i 's and tried to justify our drug use into our new lifestyle. Eventually we came to feel we were being hypocritical. We had to physically move states to finally erase our former habits because we had such little self-control.
We had no formal ties to the Baha'i religion but kind of stuck to it's ideals because they were more true to us than the religious ideas we'd been brought up with. In actuality we were only trading one lie for another, one destructive lifestyle for another. But, such is sometimes the nature of searching, it takes more than one try to find what your looking for.
Before long, some of our ruinous ways led to a pretty weird divorce. And that's all I have to say about that!
But, all that changed very suddenly.
I met my husband, TT, who had studied the Bible for years. He'd gotten a little disallusioned with life himself and although he felt strongly about the power of living life by Bible standards, his will was not strong to do so because of many discouraging events in his life. Once we married, we initiated a study together. Him, with the intent of strengthening his resolve and me, still searching and intrigued by much I was learning. At first it was the intellectual endeavor of the investigation that drew me in but in time the reasonableness, the love and compassion of the originator of this Bible and seeing the positive effects of it's application, convinced me I had found what I was searching for all along. Not only in myself, but in all I became associated with during this search, these affirmative effects were evident.
I don't know if I can convey with words how this discovery has changed my life. Of course, I still have discouragement at times and lose track of the hope this endeavor has led me to. I don't consider myself "religious" per se but my faith has become a way of life. The rest is just a means to an end. The end of working to overcome my imperfect nature by making a conscious effort to do so - in everything I do. I could be a custodian, a grocery store cashier (not my preference) or a mobile home/RV park manager or just a stay at home mom and be equally satisfied because my real boss is not a human, but a perfect, compassionate, loving being.
Having a husband who shares the same love of this truth I've found, and two beautiful kids (yeah I want to kill them at times) to give the same oppotunity to find a love of that truth gives my life all the meaning it needs.
A far cry from the life I described at the outset, a life that I look back on as if it was another lifetime, another person.
After this post I'm almost relieved that I don't have many readers.

Show and Tell HATS

2006-01-22T20:20:00.000-06:00

At first I thought there was little more than one kind of hat in my house. When I gathered them together there was quite a selection. This assortment doesn't include the sun visors of which there were too many to photograph. First and foremost there are the western hats. There's the winter black felt, the 7X beaver grey felt, the summer straws, some stetsons, some resistols.

Then, of course there are the caps, helmets and a few dress hats, hardly ever worn.

One more...we found an old Panama type hat. No idea where it came from. I love the way hats look but I have a hard time feeling comfortable in them. Some people wear them with such charm and grace. Well, so much for hats...Till next time.

To My Love, But You May Share

2006-01-19T10:33:00.000-06:00

Undoubtfully beautiful.
So witty, so petite.
I love her so,
It's not a difficult feat.

Her hair is long,
Her toes are short,
Her humor is wild,
Similar is a child.

She loves her Creator,
He's no dictator.
He offers all.
With a small return.

She gives her all,
Asking nothing back.
Her qualities are vast,

TT, you sent this to me with a promise of a poem a week. You are so romantic. It ends with a comma. Did I miss a line or is this a promise of more to come?
Can I learn still more about you? Sometimes I feel so connected that I can guess your every move, which I often can. But every so often, you surprise me. Our love is like a rare and elegant flower, growing like a hibiscus. . . A bloom peeps out from a tender shoot, turns into a young blossom, then a beautiful mature flower, only to eventually ripen and disappear - for a short while - only to reappear as another bloom, more lovely than the last, promising yet another exquisite creation, continuing throughout all seasons if warmth is its environment. And this creative drama occurs for untold years with but a bit of nourishment. And as with love, this nourishment is not a requirement for existence but, oh, the added returns.

Your simple, yet eloquent, words are a nourishment to me. . . I love you, babe.

Turning over a New Leaf but Keeping the Tree

2006-01-06T09:01:00.000-06:00

Just spent a very enjoyable hour catching up on my favorite blogdom friends. Lurked on many but was really inspired by several so decided to "speak" back. It amazes me that you all have such a creative streak and can evoke so many emotions in a reader, or listener as the case might be. Unfortuneately I am not nearly as loyal to my journalings, so I pray you be patient with my frequent long silences.
It boggles me how the simplest musings, the most mundane of lists of "things to do," are turned into an interesting post by many. My attempts at the same however usually seem blah and lifeless. So bear with my rambling, please, till I get a little more confident.
I thought I would make a list of the things I'd like to endeavor to change or improve in myself this year. Since I have so few readers I feel like I can be very candid so forgive my candor if you just stumble across me. My TT, no doubt, will read my list with eagerness and assuredly will agree with the shortcomings I plan to endeavor to overcome.

My anger. Most people don't know of it. I conceal it to the outside world so well and can easily put it off. But to my dear ones...oh what a price they pay when my anger flares. Each days disappointments, frustrations, mistakes, confrontations with stupidity (mine and others,) pile up to form a ball of anger that I conveniently conceal until the dear ones get home. Then the smallest of things could set me off on a tirade. Except for my dear ones, you would all say, "I don't believe it, your exagerating," but no, it's true. TT would be the first to agree since he is my most beloved and often takes the brunt of my uncontrolled mean streak. Sorry babe, I promise, I WILL try. As one wise man said, "A calm heart is the life of the fleshly organism."
Be more creative. The only thing I feel creative with is food and home decor. Useful, yes, but I want to expand. Writing, dreaming, art (haven't narrowed down yet what avenue,) free expression, and what ever else touches my fancy. You all inspire me but I always feel too busy to act on that inspiration. Which leads to my next change:
Be less busy - do things that are relaxing, theraputic. I like busy but I want to reorganize my "busi-ness" to include a little less business and some more spirituality, more family. I want to accomplish this partly by better organizing and scheduling my time.
Finishing what I start. I DO do this but because of bad scheduling, it's not soon enough for my preference. I get so much satisfaction when completing even menial tasks.
Reflect more on my blessings. Sickness or death of friends and family, personal trials and the situation of the world in general often make this difficult for me, but as I reflect on the much more difficult problems that have been sprung on so many, this year alone, that have broken their families or resulted in a complete loss of home and life as they knew it, it makes it easier to focus, if I put my mind to it, on all the wonderful blessings I have. (Is that a run on sentence, or what?) Anyway, I want to do that more fully.

As I'm thinking these through, I'm being reminded of the many more foibles I'd like to change but it's probably wise to stick to a few at a time. When you percieve I'm in a good mood you're welcome to remind me of others.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many who have been in my life this year, some by their choice, dear reader, and some by mine, as I happen upon you in cyberspace. And Lori, for your continued friendship from afar which has meant so much to me. You are a reminder to me of the good times in our past as well as the times that taught us lessons, made us grow and made us the souls we are today.

Especially are thanks deserved by my ever understanding dear ones who have put up with me over these years who have really inspired me to endeavor to improve but still be me. Yes that means you babe, and our babies and a host of spiritual relations who have increased my family to the hundreds or more.

Show and Tell

2005-12-12T21:36:00.000-06:00

Hope there's no late fee (property manager jargon) for tardy posters.
I don't celebrate Christmas myself so I thought I'd publish some pictures of some decorations, RV style. Many of the RV'ers who come through our park are what the industry calls "full-timers." This means they spend the entire year in their RV, traveling, usually from place to place, following either good weather, friends and family or just inexpensive parks to stay at temporarily. My camera doesn't do well in the dark I discovered. With the flash it looks like daytime and without it, the lights are just a blur, but here's what I got.
These reindeer stand post at one end of the RV.

This snappy sleigh with rudolph bedecks the back end of the trailer and...

this is their front door and patio, complete with lit tree and snowflake lights hanging from their awning. A 24 hour recording of carols and Christmas ditties graces each passerby.

My pictures really don't do them justice but you get the idea. As you might imagine, the stories these RV'ers tell are some pretty interesting tales.

What's Wrong W/ This Pic?

2005-12-08T08:41:00.000-06:00

When I went out this morning to wait for the bus with the kids, there was an immediate windburn on our faces. The stored up warmth from the Franklin stove in the living room was briskly sapped from our bodies. The temperature was 27 degrees, trees were flailing wildly so that despite the cold air you couldn't "see" your breath because the wind stole it away. White, thick clouds so filled the sky that it appeared as if white was it's normal color, especially due to the early hour and the sky being devoid of any of the sun's influence.
Now, several hours later, not much has changed except that the clouds have perceivable texture though still covering the entire sky.
So, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
This is sunny and warm, southern Texas where people travel to escape this stuff! Parts of TX even had snow. Meteorologists predict the temps will soar to 32 degrees by afternoon. We're actually worrying about freezing pipes. Strangely, it was in the high 80's on Sunday.
This kind of weather always excites TT. He has this longing to see real snow and the thought that it may actually occur makes him appear the gleeful child anxiously awaiting the moment when he can run outside to the white wonderland and make snowballs, hear the snow crunch under foot and throw yourself down backfirst in the stuff to make an angel imprint. The slightest drop of precipitation in winter, which usually is a cold rain drop or occaisionally an icy slush drop, sends him rushing to the phone to ask others if it's "snowing" at their house too. LC and DQ have never seen snow and TT hasn't seen it since 1985 when a freak snowstorm dropped a couple feet of the icy concoction in our fair city. That was just before my arrival here. I don't believe I've seen it since 1980 on a hike in the mountains of New Mexico in August where the snow was still stubbornly holding onto the peaks from the winter before. Anyway, it IS exciting, I guess. I just tend to get MORE excited when after a long winter I see the first buds of hyacinth pushing up the earth and long bare tree branches emitting small shoots of green, and the daily progression of more and more green appearing on the trees.
Well, I've just released my blog address to TT today. He'll need to read back several posts to find out what TT stands for. I figured at least someone besides Lori will be reading then. But that's OK. I really embarked upon the whole thing just to reflect on things. So, L and TT, forgive my rambling.

An Earthcoming

2005-12-04T21:02:00.000-06:00

First, show and tell. My car is so boring that it really doesn't need a picture. It's a harvest gold Ford explorer. Yeah, you've probably seen a million of them. As some may remember, the only difference with mine is the faint smell of dead chicken. My birth family were always chevy buyers but marriage brought me into a Ford family, hence the Ford SUV. I love BB's show and tells this just wasn't one I got excited about. I've always thought of how nice a shiny red renault (do they still make those?) or a sporty citroen mazarati would look in my driveway. My favorite car that I've ever owned was a '91 Lincoln Town Car. It always made me feel luxurious.

As I near the anniversary of the birth of my firstborn, I always recall the particulars of his earthcoming and how it changed the life of TT and I forever. LC was born at home, which, at the time was a 40' travel trailer (no trailer trash jokes, please.) I've always had this real hatred of hospitals and I didn't feel much better about doctors. Fancying myself a nature woman, I decided to find a trusted soul to be a midwife. Although many found this a frivolous pursuit it lead to one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life, both times. My first pregnancy was fairly normal but without most of the modern frills like sonograms and prebirth gender accessing. My widwife was an herbolgist and I used several herbs religiously to smooth the birthing process. Evening primrose oil and raspberry tea, blue cohosh and verbena. The nine months were some of the most remembered I'll ever live and in retrospect they passed like a freight train, a little slow in coming but once it's past you wonder how it could have gone so fast. I gained 75 pounds!! That was not a good memory! I'm still carrying most of it around I think. On the fateful night I remember laying in bed, tossing and turning, never finding a comfortable spot for my belly. All of the sudden a warmth of unbelievable proportions came over me. I soon figured out it corresponded with a watery alarm of the imminent birth. Did I say imminent? Ha! This was just a threat. Thirty-six hours of many more threats were just beginning to occur. Most of the 36 hours were spent on the pottie, facing the tank, while TT put hot compresses on my back. Many have called me weird but I think the nine months of anticipating and the several hours of wondering how THIS birth will present itself, are some of the best parts of the maternal role, even along with the excrutiating changes, stretches and pains that accompany it. I especially remember how the midwife sent TT and I outside (it was cold) to walk during the 24th hour of labor. She insisted it would speed things along. 30 hours into the ordeal she left ("Where are you going, you can't leave NOW!") and instructed us to become intimate. "This will be the clincher", she said. It always brings things along faster. Well, from that point forward things did move along. Before we knew it TT was cutting the umbilical cord and LC was laying in our arms. I worried about his head, (funny shape,) and thought he must look like TT when he was born. Tired as we were, we spent hours just staring at him, thanking God it all came out the way He purposed for a child to enter the world, wondering about tomorrow, next year and the rest of his little life. Now he's 16, driving, a HS junior and would undoubtedly be embarrased if he read this.
Every year around this time I recount the details, adding more each year I think, to my son, as he ages one more year. It's a family tradition that my mom always kept. She would hold us in her arms and lovingly tell of her trials and joys of our particular birth. At the time, as the time for each sibling came around, we would cuddle in her bosom (knowing it somehow made her feel full and satisfied) and listen as she recalled some of the details of our earthcoming. We would all be present for the "ceremony" and giggle over the poor victim of moms loving embrace, all the while wishing in our hearts that we were the victim. My eyes always fill with warm drops as I recount to my children the wonderful moments before, during and after their birth as my prayers go with them that they too will experience the many joys of life, all the while learning from times of trial and benefitting from the privilege of loving family and friends. Somehow I know that Ma would be happy if she knew I kept this vigil of memories.

show and tell

2005-11-11T19:33:00.000-06:00

I love this set. It's from England. No, I didn't go there. I got it from a past tenant in one of the properties I rent. The whole set, can you believe it! It's so fragile looking yet feels strong when you grab the handle. But, do I use these? Not often. They sit on display on a buffet.

These however, are the mugs TT & I use most. Did we buy them? No we got them from past tenants who left them behind. Does this seem like a pattern? Yes, it's the story of my life. Needless to say my initial is not "R". Why do I like these mugs? They're just the right thickness to fit your lip when you sip. A cup must be either white or a light color inside so that you can see the color of your beverage well. A black inside makes it impossible to tell if the liquid is water or coffee and how dark the coffee is. Coffee must be dark and rich.

Wedding Pics

2005-11-05T01:40:00.000-06:00

Garden Wedding

2005-11-05T01:00:00.000-06:00

This is my third try with this post. Having problems with inserting photos. I’ll get the hang of it.
Sorry, BB, couldn’t think of any original addictions. TT would tell you it’s the computer and the kids would agree. But it’s the way I relax and unwind (after a full day of WORKING on the computer.) Sounds like the ramblings of an alcoholic defending their drinking. I’ve always spent time daily reading and replying to emails, then I discovered blogs and one by one there were new ones daily I began to read, eventually comment to and now I’m slowly venturing into one of my own. You can see where this is going…
The wedding at our house was yesterday. All proceeded without a hitch, except for the bride and groom, of course, who are now permanently hitched. Guests began arriving around 1pm. The weather was perfect. We had to wait a moment to start while the groom searched for the license in his trunk.
TT performed the ceremony, beginning with a short talk on the joys and realities of marriage, focusing on its origin and counsel found in the Scriptures. The breeze was blowing lightly and it made the bride nervous wondering if the slightly top-heavy vase of lilies behind her would remain standing. However she loosened up for this final part of the ceremony…
After some family pictures and greetings from guests, all came inside for a traditional Mexican wedding meal-Chicken Mole, Spanish rice, pinto beans, ensalada and wedding cake.

After the meal the guests visited for a while then filled some take home plates for later (some may consider this tacky but its tradition
here in TX)

Then came an end to a perfect day. Off they were to the honeymoon and a new life together. It was fun but I look forward to getting back to normal. Did I say normal? What’s that?
Since I can't get more than 3 pictures to publish, I'll post this then post pictures. You'll figure it out.

Hunting Season

2005-10-31T02:11:00.000-06:00

This picture is a couple years old. Cowboy's first deer. Yuck! The first weekend in November marks this auspiscious event in this neck of the woods. Personally, the whole thing is ridiculous to me. Grown??? men spend months in advance feeding unknowing animals to draw them to a particular spot, one near their particular "blind" (a small hiding spot where a hunter can remain camoflaged,) then at first legal opportunity (November)they make them prey. TT (tall texan-dad) and Cowboy (my teen son) have been gearing up for this for at least a month already. It used to be they camped in the woods and it was a real "rough it" thing but it has evolved over the years into a comfortable cabin they've built a little at a time with solar energy and a generator for small appliances. They still have to carry in water.
I know many are diametrically opposed to hunting and I can sympathize but it's in their blood. It affirms their feeling of worthiness, bringing home the proverbial bacon, in their case a deer buck. At least they follow Mogley's jungle rule. "Only kill to eat or keep from being eaten." Remember, from Disney's JUNGLE BOOK? We fill a freezer each fall or winter, depending on how accurate their hunting, with at least a couple hundred pounds of processed venison and sometimes hog from their hunting lease. Yes, I eat it too, but it's not my favorite of meats. Although I must confess, the dried venison sausage and jerky are pretty tasty.
My favorite part of the whole experience is that when TT and Cowboy head for the woods they usually go for a night or two and this affords some private time for DQ (Drama Queen, almost teen daughter) and me. We usually splurge with chinese take out and a DVD on one night and sometimes the luxury of not having to fix dinner at all- just snacks when we get the urge. I guess it's a dad/son thing too. They seem to really enjoy their MAN time together. Go figure.

The Boudoir

2005-10-29T20:04:00.000-05:00

Let me start with show and tell. I know it's supposed to be on Friday but I only get the camera on weekends because TT (tall Texan) uses it for work during the week. Here's the boudoir. Just changed over the covers from the summer cotton quilt to the winter "bed clothes" as my Mom used to call them. No, my TT didn't build this bed but he IS sexy.
Haven't posted for ages. I'm frantically getting ready for a wedding at the house. A friend is getting married this week and I offered my home. Not that my house isn't fairly clean...but you know how there's always a room (or two) that gets passed over and tends to gather all the stuff you didn't know where to put when you cleaned the rest of the house. I started it yesterday and have finally finished tonight. Now I can take a few breaths before I work on th decorations. She wants "pink." I know a lot of people like pink and I don't mind it but I just changed all the colors in the house to fall shades and now I'll be changing everything to pink. I'm going to surprize everyone by adding black highlights with the pink. I'm using several shades of pink roses with wide black chiffon ribbon. Several strands of little white lights will surround the room with the dinner tables.. you get the picture. Other friends are providing the food, traditional Mexican fare... Chicken Mole, Spanish rice, Pinto beans, potato salad and, of course, Mexican Wedding Cookies and a three tier cake. TT is presiding over the wedding vows. Hopefully all will procede smoothly.

Lost Picture from previous post

2005-10-04T01:35:00.000-05:00

M's Turn to Turn 50

2005-10-04T01:34:00.000-05:00

M, the love of my life, turned the big “50” today.  Needless to say he’s a little testy.  “What’s one more year,” I tell him?  I’ve already jumped that hurdle a few months back.  No big deal!  At least he doesn’t have to be concerned with hormones and menopause.  I was so glad to be living in such a hot climate while I went though those hot/cold sweats.  Fanning myself continuously was not out of the ordinary so no one seemed to notice that even though I had goose bumps I was sweating at the same time.  Glad that’s over with.  M says I’m still real moody.  But I feel like it’s getting better.
We walked a couple of miles down to the creek nearby and found this little kingfisher.  While we watched him he dashed down into the water for something, presumably fish, maybe a bug or tadpole.   Our goal was to spot some deer.  J, oldest and son, put out a small automatic feeder that throws deer corn twice a day to try and draw them.  He’s seen a few and there are tracks everywhere.  Unfortunately, no pictures yet.  So many beautiful creations within a short walk from home.  This wildlife management thing we’ve recently signed up for has been exciting for us because we’ve become more aware of all the critters that live with us.
Everyone’s been talking about fall.  The temps have actually dipped into the 90’s this week and the 70’s at night.  I like it in mid-winter but right now I really yearn for some of the New England sweater weather ya’ll been writing about.  BB’s camping trip has got me planning for one of our own.  It’ll probably be November before we can stand the outdoors without A/C though.
If you’re following the saga of the dead chicken in the car…it STILL smells.  I’ve tried everything to alleviate it and only succeed in partially covering it.  Any odor removing tips would be appreciated.

A Piece of my Life

2005-09-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

When preparing to publish this blog I actually spent months thinking about it. I'd go to the settings page and think about what to enter. What's my occupation? Favorite hobbies, books. I just couldn't describe my occupation in a word or two so I'll take this opportunity to share some of what I do. I live with my husband, son and daughter in a small community called Hidden Valley. Here I have about 5 houses and 15 mobile homes as well as 30 Recreational Vehicles spaces. I manage this property for a sweet man who has always been like my second Dad. His property also includes about 150 acres of riverfront land that used to be a thriving recreational haven making Hidden Valley somewhat famous in this part of Texas. A series of several floods burnt us out on the Recreational end of the Park so we closed it and it is now a wildlife refuge type thing with TX Parks and Wildlife. The photo is me doing some brush piling in the park. However the major part of my occupation is being a property manager/landlord/repair woman/cleaning woman/lawn mower/babysitter/counselor for the tenants of the aformentioned properties. Always on call. It's one of those occupations where you may plan a list to "to do's" but you really have no idea what the day will bring on. Kind of exciting but sometimes harrowing too. My favorite part about it is being able to do it from or near home since I live on the premise. Gives me as much time as possible with my family. I can make it flexible if necessary, usually.
So, that's a little idea of part of what makes up me. Probably the third most important part of me. I'll keep you quessing as to the more important parts till a later post.

Is it this hard for Everyone?

2005-09-26T03:21:00.000-05:00

I could write reams in response to your posts but make me attempt striking out with something original and I immediately get writers block. I mean, my mind is blank! The problem is that the blogs (bloggers) I read are so interesting. I feel boring, simple. But, I’m OK with that. I really don’t feel that cyber space needs another blog to fill more of its infinite space but I have so enjoyed your posts, and you know who you are.

I think I’ll just talk about something unusual that happened this weekend to start. Due to Hurricane Rita that was scheduled to make landfall on late Fri or early Sat, the entire city decided to flock to the grocery stores to stock up. This was the most amazing site. Entire grocery store shelves…empty. Not every item or every aisle, but certain items. Canned tuna, bread and of course, bottled water (due to its lack many were fast scarfing up the last of the milk, soda and juices.) Empty grocery shelves are almost surreal in our somewhat decadent lives today. Anyway, I was only here because I always wait to shop till I’m out of everything. The less I go to the store the less I’m tempted to buy what I don’t need. I hate how grocery store these days have everything from shoes to bed spreads to fine wines to the latest fashions in patio furniture. It’s all so tempting, but I digress. I tried to stick only to the essentials that normally line my kitchen cabinets. The $200 order included a plump chicken which I’d planned to roast at some point in the future. It was destined to go to my freezer till that time. The following day I had a hankerin’ for a roast chick so into the freezer I went but…no chicken! I’d shopped with a neighbor, friend so phoned to see if she’d gotten it by accident…”No.” I check the car, just to make sure I didn’t miss it. Nope, not in the trunk. That makes me so mad when something I buy is inadvertently left at the end of the cashiers counter. I checked my receipt and there it was, plain as day, the third from the last item. All the pains I take to keep the grocery total low, thriftiness, coupons, doing without luxuries and then $3.90 worth of missing chicken from my grocery order just negated any savings I may have made. I was mad. To explain…I live a little far from town and stores are quite a trek so I go pretty seldom and try to combine chores to save on gasoline. So going back was out of the question right then. DH would be near grocery store so I asked if he would bring receipt and make claim to my chicken. “No, not me,” he exclaimed. Well, I put it out of my mind for the time being so it wouldn’t ruin my day. Along comes Sunday and we are out the door, on time even, for our trip to one of our weekly Christian meetings. We open the garage and something’s amiss. DH opens the car door and just about falls over. Our gag impulses were all tested to the max. A smell like you’ve never smelled came wafting from the car, and there, rolled under the back seat, was the chicken. It was swelled up like it had rigamortis (sp) and ready to pop out of its package with little prodding. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sell that car for love or money! Did I get teased by the troops all day! Needless to say, we piled into the truck instead. A lesson learned.

Second Try

2005-09-02T22:34:00.000-05:00

This is new. Finally found a template and format even I can understand. SOooo, the reader of everybody elses blog is finally striking out into new territory. Actually it's a second try after a previously aborted effort. The title? It's how I try to live my life. Current photo: sent to me from elsewhere and named "the Eye of God." Far from simple, yet, simple in that it's clear and bright, free of obstruction. I'm using it to inspire me at least till I get the hang of this.