Spring has slipped into summer

 and the days are filled with extreme heat.

As I grumble and whine about how hard it is to just take a stroll.......

looking like a melted , wind blown mess, 

everything stands tall and lovely in it's

 vibrant color

and it all seems to sing a happy song of summer.

Making me glad that I take the time........to melt.....

and to see it's beauty.

every creature finds it's own place of comfort 

and carries on with it's daily life

and I stop to wonder...........how do 

they not just wither and crisp up in this

harshness??

In all of their simple existence.........

they make me see how lovely each day can be

whether rain or shine.

Here's wishing you pleasant days with lovely things to see!

Visit my cooking blog for this wonderful sweet roll recipe 

at this link. 

Blueberry Lemon Sweet Rolls

The early morning air is still cool............

but there is now a fragrance in the blowing breeze, coming from the fields and road sides 

that are covered in vibrant, multi-colored wildflowers. 

As the day warms up, the fragrance gets stronger.........

it is May.

Recent, welcoming, rains have brought life to the grounds and to the surrounding 

woods. The mesquite trees, which were ragged and bare just a few weeks ago,

are now fully dressed in their vibrant green leaves.  The woods look dark

and cool with all of this greenery.  

At this time the mesquites are covered in blooms which look much 

like fat, yellow caterpillars.  They are soft as such, and have a sweet fragrance.

The large cactus bushes that I selected to remain for my dry garden

are in bloom, 

They have large cabbage style flowers in vibrant yellow with

rose colored buds. They are at their prettiest this time of  year.

The month of May has awakened not only the flowers and plants,

but rabbits are selecting their hiding places for their nests of

warm tiny bunnies,

and the  same kind of wild bird, with the long beak and vibrant orange

eyes, has come back to build a nest  in the old metal tub 

that hangs on the wall of my vintage dishware shop. 

No matter how much activity is happening in and around the shop, 

it feels perfectly at home. 

Speaking of my shop...........

I have spent these past weeks working at rearranging 

shelves of vintage dishes and glassware for display.

I also painted and designed the floor. I hope to 

open to the public for sales, now that the virus has

seemed to be calmed down.  I have a tour of my shop

if you would like to see on my embroidery blog. You can visit by clicking onto

this link     Yesteryear Embroideries

I want to thank you all for still checking and leaving comments......

asking about how our son Zack is doing.  He is doing very well. 

He is back at his work and feeling like his normal self. 

He has been very humbled in knowing how many of  you have asked about him

and have prayed for him........he and I both say 

"thank you" 

May is also the start of "stormy season"

Sometimes the clouds give the sense of 

hope and relief of welcoming rain...........

sometimes they give the sense of dread

of hail and high wind coming.

Here's wishing for you....... pleasant weather and with pretty things

growing in your backyard. 

It is April

 

now that the wild winds and dust storms are over...........

I open the doors and windows to let in the fresh spring air, and along with it come the melodic sounds of the wild song birds.......all drifting delightfully through the house. 

(yellow headed blackbird)

The feel of the coolness and the sounds of the birds, make me want to go out and either take a long walk amongst it all  with Sophie or to get my garden tools and to find a spot of earth to create a lovely haven..........somewhere.  

 Taboo has even been enticed from his perfect napping spot by the lure of the birds chatter and the smell of fresh earth and grass.  He looks out and chatters back to the birds.

No matter how dry and crackled everything has been through this particularly harsh winter,  there is nothing better than the outside awakening to life after a spring rain. 

The wild flowers are starting to cover the grounds

and the antelope are lingering in grassy places among the fields to graze.  They are amazing graceful animals.  I see this group almost each time as I head to the post office. 

I have named this fellow Pharaoh. 

He stands proud and majestic with his flock of females as I stop to take a photo. 

This pretty weather also makes me want to work on garden spaces in the dry gardens.  I am all excited about the process at this time of year..........then as the cool weather turns to heat and dry ground........I am less energetic to proceed.  So I get busy and hope to get finished before that time gets here.  

 I picked a perfect hot day last week and worked with my cement ideas.  I have previously made cement planting bowls to make the gardens of cactus more welcoming.

I have been wanting to make spheres for these garden spaces. I am thrilled at how these turned out. 

 I used cement dye for the colorful ones. 

 Now I am trying to figure out the perfect spot for each one. 

I am not sure as to what I want to plant along the grounds and flower beds of the house.........the ground squirrels, also being awakened,  have made their presence known.  They are a challenge to me and eagerly rid my gardens of any thing I am successful at getting to sprout.  They have ruined each pumpkin patch I have tried to get going for the past 3 years.  However, I am not giving up.............. I am working with containers this year.....hoping to be able to grow things and to keep them growing this way without pests bothering them. 

For this time, I am simply enjoying nature and freshness of the new earth pushing up the colorful wildflowers.

I hope this finds the spring rains and fresh air have awakened you to days filled with the beauty of nature and the energy to get out amongst it all for a walk to just linger and enjoy!  

 

 

Wishing you a blessed Easter

 

See the land, her Easter keeping,

Rises as her Maker rose.

Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,

Burst at last from winter snows.

Earth with heaven above rejoices...

Charles Kingsley

 

All Is Well

 We  made it home late yesterday afternoon.........with Zack. It is amazing at how no one stays in a hospital after serious surgeries these days! Even brain surgeries. We learned that brain surgery patients go home usually after 3 days.  The doctor felt that there was no need for us to stay in Dallas with Zack at the hotel, because he would heal better here at home. Zack was very much in agreement with that . LOL  He traveled well......and instead of sleeping all the way, he chatted more.  He is the same Zack we have always known........the surgery did no damage. He has a good while to heal and to recover, but so far , he is doing well.  We are so thankful! And we are thankful to you all for your thoughts, prayers, and comments of supportive words..........

from our hearts.............thank you

The hospital  itself was like an art gallery.  

The building was beautiful and each floor had it's walls covered with art from artists who donated their works .  

Along each piece was a bio telling about the artist and how they created their piece.  I spent some of my time walking the hallways looking at the images and reading about the artist. 

The drive to and from Dallas was nice.  We traveled through some of the prettiest countryside with large hills, foggy meadows with ponds and cattle grazing. 

Although Dallas was a busy and loud city .........as any other city.......to me it was still pretty.  The trees, the landscaped streets..even the tall buildings, had a charm to them.  I would not like to live there..........but I can see how one could find their own piece of heaven there..........they may have to work a bit harder at it. 

I had such a sense of relief and gratefulness leaving Dallas, when the 5 lane turned into the 2 lane and the skyscrapers turned into green pastures of grazing cattle.  It was so good to pull into our drive and to be home. And although, in Dallas,  we had a nice hotel and we slept well..........I  slept so much better last night in our own bed and the quiet of our house. 

I had left my tulips in my vintage shop to stay safe from harsh

wind and weather while I was away

They were just beginning to bloom

What a cheery welcome home I got 

when I found them all in full bloom

in different vibrant colors! 

 There have been so many storms across the county........

I hope this finds you 

enjoying pretty and peaceful weather.

Stay safe and happy

 

Memories

 

Our family room wall is covered with photos from the 

years of all of our lives.  From our wedding, fun family times,

babies being born, 

milestones as the children grew and then into

the wonderful adults they have become. 

It is the first thing I see as I start my day......with the not 

quite risen sun casting it's early morning glow

onto ...........our memories.

I hope......with all of my heart.......that there will 

be more memories to add to this wall.

I first want to thank all of you for your supportive words,

concern, and prayers for our son Zack.

As you read this........we are traveling on our way

where Zack will be having his surgery in just a few days.

My faith is strong...........but my heart is full of dread , 

anxiety.......and worry.  Not knowing what the outcome of this surgery will 

be has been just as hard to wait for  as the wait for 

the surgery process to be finalized has been these past long days. 

Still not sure how long it will be before I return to post here.

But I ask for your continued prayers for Zack's surgeon 

and for Zack.

Enjoy and love all those you have around you,

and take time to enjoy everything with each day you 

are given.  Hope to return here soon with

much happy news!  

Kathleen

A dark cloud has come over our lives this week..............

 

Our oldest son, Zack,  (only 33) has been having some issues these past few months 

which led him to have an MRI.  The MRI has shown that he has 3 tumors

on his brain and that he will need surgery as soon as possible. 

We are in the stages of awaiting word  and getting things lined up

with a neurosurgeon.  

The worry and heartbreak from this devastating news

is all that we can bear........as we do not know what the outcome of this 

serious surgery will result in.  

We cling to our faith and are thankful for the comfort that supportive words and prayer

from family and friends has brought to us.

It may be awhile until I return back here to post..........

hopefully with happy news of Zack's recovery.

Your well wishes and prayers are always appreciated

and we thank you.