"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
I walked around the property this early morning
taking photos of the changing scenery of these late summer days.....although there is still much green in the trees and prairie,
I take a closer look......and it seems that everything knows ...summer will soon end.
The flowers that once were cheery and bright in the garden, now
take on a different beauty of September to come.
Anything that has been growing this summer has taken on a darker color.
The "used to be" late evenings ....with the sun taking it's time to color the sky in vibrant hues as it sets, are getting shorter as dark greets us much earlier.
There is a coolness in the early morning.......welcoming me to take longer, slower walks.........
by noon the raging heat, reminding me it is still summer, quickly takes over for the rest of the day.
For many, vacation time is over, school has started back up, and everyone
settles back into the routine of their daily lives.
This summer , as hot and furious it seemed to be for most of us,
will soon be bidding us farewell and the breeze of autumn will soon
come whispering to us, promising cool days with a beauty in it's arrival.
Here's wishing you fun and happy moments in these last summer days.
Friday, July 21, 2023
These very hot days........
from what I am reading and hearing from television, social media , friends, and family
these very hot days are upon us all.......as we are all watching the July days
melt into August. How long must this go on??...........as we know here in Texas......
a bit longer
The flowers are struggling to stay perky and in bloom
and I struggle to get out in the heat to water them.
yet.....as I hold the watering hose.....I am delighted to
see the thirsty creatures brave enough to swoop in for a drink
They bring such beauty in just a few seconds of flight
some are still , quiet, and do their best to blend in.
Although it has been dry and we have temps up to 113 at times,
we have been blessed to get a relieving rain shower from time to time.
I spend a little bit of time each morning outside to weed and just to visit
the garden paths. In the late evening.....it is still in the high 90s.......I drag
the garden hose around to each thirsty plant.
In the middle of the day, after the house cleaning and dinner dishes
are finished....... I spend my time with my needle.....stitching the hours away.
So tell me........what are you doing on these very hot days?
Are you vacationing.....are you on the lake or beach......enjoying the water,
maybe you are enjoying your garden?
I would love to hear!
Keep cool everyone!
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Floating around in flood waters........
If you have read my blog through the years........it seems I always talk about
how dry and in need of moisture our area is in...........
all of that changed a week ago........
you can click onto this link below....
We were safe from this kind of flooding.........though we have gotten inches of rain everyday
for a lot of days. The above photo is a highway we use to go to Lubbock Texas.
The highway at this time is still closed because it has not stopped raining and the
cars are still stuck in the middle of it all.
For us, things have been much calmer. Because of the constant rain
many of the wildflowers are in full bloom. This seems to be a favorite of the bees.
They are always buzzing in and around them. Of all things, this is called "hog potato"
Who really names flowers?? I cant imagine something so pretty being called hog potato.
The lovely Indian Blanket
Mountain Zinnia
Ox eyed Daisy
Prairie Aster
We have so many different types of
yellow daisy. You think they are all the same type until you stop
to look at them. Then you notice the difference. Some like
the Stiff Greenthread daisy
the Huisache daisy
and the Asteraceae daisy.....which I have to say is
one of my favorites. It's very tiny and so cheery!
The ground is also pushing up wild mushrooms,
They come in all shapes
and sizes with distinct features.
My own garden flowers are doing well......but that
will be for a later post. Because of the wonderful overload of rain,
there is an abundance of weeds and strong grass that has been overtaking
the garden spaces. So for a good part of the morning and afternoon
I am bent down tugging and pulling.
So tell me.......how is your weather? What is growing in your back yard?
I would love to hear.
Here's wishing you the best of beautiful days ahead.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
The cold winds of winter
and the bareness of the surrounding trees are now just a memory as April has faded and May has made her sunny, warm, entrance.
There is now a warmth that blows in the wind....that on some days, can be very strong, carrying the dry dust of the neighboring fields............along with the faint fragrance of the newly blossomed wildflowers that have pushed up across the prairie.
The woods....as I like to call it......which in reality, are acres of tall crooked mesquite trees......have lost the gray bareness.....and now, barely a twig can be seen........each limb is covered in billowy, light green leaves....thick and lush.
On one of my walks, I came across this whimsical lizard...enjoying the warmth of the cement patio,
yet insisted on running ahead of me as I walked along....escorting me, in it's on way....I think it liked getting it's photo taken.
The air is filled with the songs of so many wild birds that have come for feed and water. The yellow headed blackbirds......I have to say , are one of my favorites. They stay only for a short time and soon take to flight.
Large storm clouds have colored the evening sky bringing welcomed drops of rain. With these rain showers, I always feel delighted that we have gotten so much......but the next day, I hear those who measure and know....talk about how little there was of it.....and how much more we need.
But for myself, I feel thankful.
This is a time for late evenings spent out on the back patio........to watch the sun grow weary of the day
as it lets the large glowing moon and the bright stars take over the black canvas of the night.
The mosquitoes have not yet found us as we sit out.......so for this small span of time......we enjoy these late, quiet, nights.
Thank you all for the sweet anniversary wishes. Mark and I have had such a long road to walk together.....with
so many twists and turns.........and a lot of wonderful
paths on the side.
Here's wishing you are having pretty and pleasant spring days
with much color and loveliness sprouting up in every space.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
This Day I Will Marry The One I Love
The above title to this post is from the front of our wedding invitation
40 years ago....
and we still love each other.
and I think we always will.
Friday, March 24, 2023
If one can get past the high wind and suffocating dirt
and look close enough,
beauty can be found in these wild days of March.
Our back property has large dunes of wind swept sand
that gives the false sense that a body of salt water lies on the other side
but no........
all that can be seen is the large acreage of the bare cotton field that stretches for miles as the
dry dirt blows across it and forms these high dunes. We are in much need of rain.
yet, even in this dry climate.......the tough little
prairie wildflowers are starting to pop up and to show their color.
Some of these early spring days have been warm and pleasant,
others have been chilly. The wild birds are starting to fly in ,
some, like the woodpecker, are native here. Some are migratory who come to rest their wings,
fill up on seed and water, and then , in a few weeks fly on their way.
In the woods, away from the sand dunes, where the trees are still bare,
the gold color of the budding conifer
shimmer in the sun. These small buds will soon turn red. This
kind of conifer is a tasty treat to the wild deer who walk along the grounds
in the late afternoon.
The red berries of the Turkey Pear cactus look
so cheery and vibrant.
This is a "look, but don't touch" plant... as it
is filled with hundreds of tiny barbs and thorns.
Closer to the yard, the fragrant stock plant is blooming.
Taboo kitty loves sticking his face deep into the blossoms
each morning on our walks.
When the wind and dirt is not blowing, I have been outside,
planting flower seed and clearing garden spaces. On the wild windy
days I am content to stay in and stitch the hours away.
So tell me.........how is the weather in your corner of the world?
Are you planning large flower or vegetable gardens?
I would love to hear!
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Happy Valentines Day
Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart.
Author unknown
Wishing you a day of love and laughter
Monday, February 6, 2023
February
On the wind in February
Snowflakes float still,
Half inclined to turn to rain,
Nipping, dripping, chill.
~Christina Georgina Rossetti, "A Year's Windfalls," 1866
Hello everyone.......how are your February days treating you? Are you covered in ice and snow?
Are you enjoying the warmth of a sunny day? Whichever you have, I hope it is
pleasant for you.
We have some days of ice, some days of rain, and many days
with sunshine.
The vibrant yellow color of the Italian Jasmine blooming
catches the eye during this bland time of year.
The fragrant blue blossoms of the hyacinth ......that
jumped into my shopping cart at the store,
brings some happy color to the back porch.
Although the landscape may still be in it's winter slumber
the sky does not withhold it's beauty.........in the morning
it is absolutely breathtaking.
although we are still in the middle of freezing temps...........
seeds and seed catalogs are getting me anxious to plant.
Until that time actually comes,........
I can spend my time embroidering the flowersI want to grow!
Have you started planning a garden for flowers or vegetables?
How are you spending the cold wet days when inside?
I would love to hear!
Here's wishing you pleasant February days!
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