January

 

Let me start by sending all of you warm wishes that this finds you with sunshine and a warm cozy place during these cold January days.  While many of you have been under a thick blanket of snow and ice, 

we have had just a light dusting of frozen ice from our first hard freeze a few weeks back.  It sparkled in the sunshine as if diamonds had been scattered across the grounds. 

We remained dry but did experience temperatures that were down to 7 at night and only up to 22 in the day.  I am so thankful that our power company did not turn off the power as they had done to us in 2021.  

So we remained in our house on the harsh, windy , cold days, and embraced the sun when it came out to shine. 

How can I complain when I have a pink cotton candy cloud sky?

or

a moon just rising in a pink/blue late afternoon sky?

In the corner of the yard, a tough , determined sunflower bloomed.....in January!

A lone coyote has been coming up to the yard to drink from the icy water container as it goes along

hoping to find something to eat. It's coat looks so soft and silky in the sun.

In that same water, a little wild bird enjoys it's bath

and then sits for awhile to enjoy the sunny day. 

As most of you know, I love these "pincushion" devils claw cactus that I have dug up from the woods and planted into a dry garden. Some I plant into containers.  They are all doing well 

and I am thrilled to discover that there are many little cactus now growing in the same garden.

I have some plans for making some more dry garden spaces and for making some prettier flower gardens this year.  I hope this finds that you are thawing out if you have been under snow and that maybe some sunshine has come into your day. 

Wishing you all warm and pleasant days ahead!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

 

The gift itself is not so much—

Perhaps you've had a dozen such;

Its value, when reduced to gold,

May seem too trifling to be told;

But someone, loving, kind, and true,

Selected it—and thought of You.

The gift may have a hollow ring—

The love behind it is the thing!

Walt Mason (1862–1939), "Christmas Gift"

November is fading away,

 sunny days are shorter and hold a chill from the cold of the night before.  A couple of large hoot owls have decided to make their midnight lookout post on a large crooked mesquite tree that stands outside of our bedroom window.  I hear their hooting through the wee hours and they sound as if they are in conversation with each other.  One has a distinct deep and low hoot and the other has a light airy hoot.  

There is still so much that is a vibrant green all along the grounds even though it is late November.

There is an abundance of red berries on the wild bushes this year

The Turkey Pear cactus is at its best in vibrant red and green. 

The porch plants are now tucked away into the greenhouse to wait the winter through

and there is not much to do outside on these short chilly days.

Much of my time is spent cooking, cleaning, or stitching the hours away.  There is always something that needs to be done inside.  I hope this finds that you all have had a blessed Thanksgiving day and are looking forward to a happy Christmas season ahead.

 

 

Summer days have gone

 

and there is a cooler breeze that blows through the woods and 

 across the prairie.  Some days are still quite hot, but the 

sun seems to be a bit more gentle as it beams down. The 

flowers seems have gotten a refreshed spurt of energy since the relief of 

rain and cooler temps have come and have started to bloom once again.

In the late afternoon and all through the night, the moonflower

bloom their large white trumpet flowers...their fragrance drifts on the breeze.

By mid morning, these lovely flowers will have faded away

Deer are coming up to eat the wild bird grain.....even in the 

early morning. If you look at the arrow on the photo, you can see a 

third deer behind the tree. 

They are such pretty creatures!

I took this photo of the sunset on the first day of fall........

the day closed with the perfect autumn colors.

The night temperature is perfect for star gazing.......

and moon gazing. 

Fall.......I am so glad you are here!

Wishing you all happy and pleasant fall days!

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.

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.

my embroidery blog

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!