Um. . .

It’s the end of school.  We are all about wiped slap out.  I want to sleep for a week, get up and eat breakfast, then take a nap.  Other than that, I finally made the kids help clean up the fort they built last weekend.  Something about having every single blanket and kitchen chair in your home all in the middle of the living room floor just makes things feel a bit messy–never mind that the kitchen and laundry have taken on a life of their own.  It’s nearly 9:00 p.m.  The kids are just now eating dinner and watching Phineus and Ferb.

On a school night.

See?  nearly summer.  We did the fort early this year, so I guess we’ll do everything else early too.

Now for some random photos, because I WANT to blog, but that’s just not happenin’.

Happy cat

Saturday morning burn pile

The SHARPEST pencil I’ve ever seen in my life.

Homework

Wildflowers on FM 362 near my house

This is Texas. Also on FM 362 on my way home.

Queen Anne’s Lace growing wild on Hwy 59

I’d never seen it before–but I normally don’t travel that far north in the spring.

Bayou Desiard

Humongous, old, live oak on Loop Road

Lost this tree in our clearing. It’s what happens when it rains a lot on sandy soil, then the wind blows really hard.

Mother Daughter lanterns

Mother Daughter flowers

Mother Daughter Aftermath

Thad enjoying a gift from Doc Suze

Chaos

Victoria’s View, May, 2012

Some of these are from earlier than in May, however, she  needed to show her wonderful Uncle  the photos that she has taken with the camera he so generously loaned her–he’s paying it forward–and this was the quickest way to do so.  PLUS–now YOU get to see them too.

Click to see them larger–then you can scroll through at your own pace.

Spring Luncheon, 2012

(The 2012 Invitation–click to see larger.)

The Spring Luncheon (formerly known as The Mother Daughter Luncheon) was today. This was year ten, and we changed the name to be more all-inclusive. At least, we changed the name on the invitation, but we still called it Motherdaughterluncheon. I have wonderful neighbors who helped with photos and getting ready (thanks Rick and Ruth)–and my own family pitched in magnificently.

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Victoria stayed home to help me yesterday. . .she cleaned and made bean salad and chocolate flowers and when I was giving her directions for something, she said, “Yes, I know how to do a few things.” And she does. . .I forget I’ve been teaching her. She was quite the hostess today as well. She told me that she taught everyone how to play croquet. I said, “They didn’t know about croquet?” She said, “No. . .they were all like, ‘What’s croquet???’ and I told them it was golf for girls.” I guess that’s about as good an explanation as any. I had a photo of her making the chocolates. She was standing like a stork with one of her long, long legs folded up–her foot planted on the inside of her thigh. I accidentally deleted it however, so I told her we would have to re-enact it. She said, “I won’t re-enact making chocolate flowers. So. . .I’ll just have to make MORE chocolate flowers.” She drives a hard bargain, but I think I’ll keep her.

Thad and Tony ran traffic control for me again this year, though we were a smaller group than normal. Thad also vacuumed the game room, breakfast room, kitchen, AND foyer without anyone asking him to. It didn’t hurt that he got to use the shop vac and he loves to vacuum, but what is up with my kids being all dependable and helpful and stuff??? You’d think they were growing up. I really AM very proud of them. . .earlier, though, Thad was wanting to play with his Beyblades. When I gave him the “Um–no sir, we have people coming over and I need help” siren, he walked through the kitchen, slowly, shoulders drooping. As he rounded the bar he said, “I know. I know. Pick those shoulders up.” Then he walked into the pantry and closed the door behind him. He likes to go in there sometimes when he needs to be alone.

He also asked me tonight if I’d “like to see some science in action?” I said, “Sure.” So he showed me about static electricity holding a balloon against the wall. He said, “There is a positive charge and a negative charge, and I like to think of them this way. The positive charge has four hooks, and the negative charge only has two. So the positive charge stays still, while the negative charge is easily swept away.” *Ahem.* I said, as I often do, “Well, boy. Where did you hear that?” And he said, “In my head.”

‘Twas a good day. Hope yours was too.

Christmas. . .still. . .

Tree is STILL up, but you know what? Doesn’t bother me–the lights are magical. AND since there are still Christmas lights up at my house, I get to still post Christmas photos. Right??? I say, YES!

In all honesty, the above photo was taken January 2nd, so it is, in fact, a New Year(‘s) photo. . .technically. You can’t see it, but Thad is standing on a stool behind the tree holding the ceiling fan chain out of the shot. He’s a good boy.

We were a little late getting our tree this year. In fact, we didn’t get it until the Thursday before Christmas break. We found a great new Christmas tree farm (where we buy pre-cut) that had a wonderful tree house and these REALLY cool rubber duck race things. Anyway–that Tuesday while Tony and Thad were at Cub Scouts, Victoria and I unboxed the pre-lit tree that was bought out of necessity in 2008–the year we were selling our old house and building this new one. We had neither the time nor the cleaning moxy to get a real tree that year, so we bought this and set it up. Tony has NO RECOLLECTION of this being done. . .not even when I reminded him of the debacle surrounding the purchase of it. He had blocked it out entirely. Whether that was from the stress of owning two homes at once or the fact that it was a fake, pre-lit tree I’m not sure–but the memory was not merely hazy, it was like chemically washed from his brain. That being said, before I wrote this post, I went back into the 2008 photos to find a picture of it in the old house. Not one existed–none. I have pictures of the children opening their presents at Momma’s (we went to her house for Christmas that year). . .but otherwise there are only new house photos. So. I cannot PROVE that it was in our home, but it WAS there.

ANYWAY. . .I thought it would be nice to have a tree in the dining room so you could possibly (through all the foliage) see the lights from the road. Once Victoria and I set it up, I was a little stricken by the fact that it looked so gangly–and naked. I didn’t remember it being such a sad tree. So we added a few baubles. Then I had the brainstorm to make it the kids’ tree–one to hold all of their school and church made ornaments from years past. VOILA! A new tradition was born. We all liked it.

This was the first ornament I bought to go on the tree in our new house. At least, the first ornament I bought to keep. I buy new ones each year for the kids–but those will leave me some day. . .both the ornaments and the children, so I have started buying some for me too. We have a lot of cardinals that come and see us each year–plus my Momma loves cardinals. I like the fellow. He seems to like me too.

Cousins. . .the kids got to play with their Louisiana cousins. Well–they got to play with ONE of their Louisiana cousins. The other one is now 19 and employed–but he did make an appearance.

This photo truly captures the three different personalities of these Watts babies. . .amazing.

And we spent a large portion of Christmas day with our Houston cousin–she particularly loves Victoria.

Right before school was out, Thad requested some cash for the Christmas shop at school. Evidently, a little shop is set up so the kids can do some Santa Clausing of their own. Thad decided to make a purchase for me, and I LOVE it. My ivy has never been healthier, happier, or more well-watered.

AND my family (in addition to my yearly calendar) also purchased me a kitchen clock. . .one I have long wanted–a utensil clock. Isn’t it awesome!!!! Seriously–how cool is that?

I think that’s it. The bottom of the barrel. We sure had fun, though.

Happy New Year! (With some Merry Christmas thrown in for afters.)

We had a great break. The first week was full and busy and me still in school that Monday and Tuesday, then us traveling to and fro–visiting my mom, spending Christmas Day with Tony’s family back here in Texas. It was FAST. The second week was more time at home–and THAT was glorious.

Here are some photos of our days:

Le Tree. . .it's still up, and since we have a TREE in the middle of our house, I make sure to turn the lights on every day!!! Why not?!

Victoria's photographic handiwork again. . .

Santa says, "Howdy, y'all."

After climbing out of the vehicle on Chrismas Eve, I made cookies. . .and icing. . .and we DECORATED lest Santa starve to death.

The care and keeping of Santa is still serious business 'round here. For a little while longer. . .

Although Thad DID save his stealth "Ninja-bread Man" to eat later.

Victoria specialized in the more traditional and edible.

Sprinkles--and new Christmas Eve jammies

Keeping one's long locks out of the cream cheese frosting

Time for hot cocoa

. . .and sitting by the tree. . .

. . .while watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" AND simultaneously reading your sister's Ipod.

I can't complain about the technology, because he built that Lego Earth Dragon Lair out of a cardboard box and painters' tape.

Um. . .wait one cotton-pickin' minute. . .what happened to the little girl with her knees pulled up to her chest that was JUST sitting there?

Christmas railing--I got the red bows

Ghost girl dancing in the New Year

Yes. Thad IS shirtless at 9:00 on New Years' Eve. Some years it's freezing, and some years we wear short.

My hand model

And our traditional New Year's Day jumping photo on Lake Rd.

I hope your days were both merry and bright. . .and that your New Year finds everyone well and joyful.

Indian Autumn

Yes. . .I know the actual terminology, but this lovely fall we have is still showing off. Victoria and ran into Magnolia today, and I took these photos on the way. I would apologize for MORE autumn tree pictures. . .but they are JUST SO PRETTY. I can’t help myself.

At our neighbors' house. These leaves look like poinsettias!!!

Again with the oaks that aren't "Red Oaks" turning red!!!! SPEECHLESS. And this tree is HUGE.

We pulled into the driveway of an abandoned house so I could go back to photograph the huge oak with all the red leaves, and found this patch of clover. See what I mean? AMAZING. Clover. And RED LEAVES. In December. (I also forgot to mention that our neighbor delivered a home-grown watermelon from their garden to our door step last Sunday while we were at church. So add watermelons in December to the list.)

Victoria wanted to run through it. . .and I said, “Go for it, girly.”

Lovely, lovely day.

Photos

Sunday morning sunshine

Composition

My house from the road

Twinkle

(You can click on these photos to see them super-sized. And I just got a sparkly, spinning gold star from WordPress for publishing my 800th post.)

Phone Call Photos

Earlier I had a long talk with my friend, Carolyn. As we talked, I made the bed and walked around and folded clothes, and then went outside to take some photos for her. And here they are. . .explanations will follow. . .or you can just make up your own. (But she will understand them.)

Obviously, greenery on front porch rails. . .methinks we need some red bows though.

Afternoon kitty-cats

THERE are the red bows.

We hope the holly tree will survive. . .there are some green leaves still. Fingers crossed.

More colors. . .including a big ‘ole patch of some tender, green ground cover.

Not sure what it is, but it’s BRIGHT. I did NOTHING to that photo but take it.

Tony is building Thad his long promised and awaited fort. It’s TALL (10 feet clearance) and BIG (100 square feet). If Tony can survive building the stairs and the railing, we will all be happy.

The path the kids cut from the house to the fort. The entry to this path is very near the entry to the official path, but THIS path makes a bee-line to the fort. . .they will eventually be able to run down the trail and up the stairs at speed.

This is going FROM the clearing TO the house on the official trail that Tony and I cut three years ago. The clearing is a natural one–a low spot in the land, so it is where the rain water collects when there is any.

Yaupon is a type of native bush/shrub that grows all over the place out here. THESE yaupons have obviously become more like trees and are years and years old.

These last three are on the trail back to the house but looking back toward the clearing. The close-up yaupon photos above are of the clutch to the right.

Have I mentioned that I love where we live?

It’s Still Fall until December 21st or AMAZING Nature

As I’m sure you might recall, we had a fire here in September. It was awful and devastating, and I’ve still not really written about it. Mainly, because as blessed as we were personally to keep our home and as a community to suffer no loss of life, it’s still a bit depressing. The landscape has changed, and it won’t be the same as it was–at least not in my lifetime.

Tony and I knew a guy a long time ago who had a unique way of phrasing things. He was just a unique individual period. I can’t deliver the line at its best since you can’t hear me and since you didn’t know Joel, but he said the following in all seriousness as though it were a new concept, “Ya know? The thing about rain is. . .it makes the grass GROW!” And he was right. Look what some rain will do.

I took this photo today. . .middle of December and about four nights of below freezing temps, yet the grass is all gussied up as though it were April.

I took these next two photos today as well. The nutrients left by the fire do amazing things for ground cover.

Long before the fire, our poor area of Texas was parched like the rest of the state. The grass was just crunchy black-brown from being scorched by the sun. The ponds were completely dry–and they were ponds that, as it turns out, were 6-10 feet deep. When I went out about a week after the fire, there were trees that looked as though they had been burned–but they hadn’t. The only way you could tell was to look at the bark. The sun and high heat had scorched leaves and pine needles just like the fires had. Houston and the surrounding area has lost something like 20% of its trees–and that’s hundreds of thousands of trees. We’re talking serious, serious drought.

Losing the trees has been particularly sad. Huge pines and oaks have died all over and are being cut down by the hundreds each day. Many trees went into shock this summer and lost or dropped their leaves in an effort to save themselves. The ones that kept their leaves sort of drooped and sagged. We don’t normally have a lot of fall color in this part of the country. There are always a few sweet gums or tallow trees that put on a show–Bradford pears (which I don’t count because they are interlopers) are good for some color, but for the most part the leaves turn brown and fall.

So imagine our surprise when we got some rain. . .and then some more, and some more, and a little more. And the temperatures dropped a bit, and there was some serious cold and low and behold if the trees that are left didn’t give us something to cheer about.

This is an OAK tree. I didn’t even know oaks TURNED red. . .at least oaks that aren’t Red Oaks. And this is NOT a Red Oak.

The past two weeks have been like something out of a dream as far as southeast Texas goes. At least my little section of it.

Oh. . .it’s not Vermont. But we’ll take it.

Thankful

There are many, many stories I’ve neglected to tell here. I will try to “catch up” so to speak. . .selfishly, I do it for myself more than for you–my five faithful readers. And you probably already know all the stories anyway. . .never-the-less, here is our Thanksgiving wrapped up in some digital photos.

Fall Decor. . .this was soon accompanied by three cheesecakes, two pies, one trifle, and Heather's Blue Cake

The pumpkins have come to me over many years. The basket was from our across the street neighbors. The metal tray, a gift from another friend. The pine cones came from our yard and have been used the last couple of years. The yellow ginkgo leaves traveled all the way to me from Arkansas. . .sent by my friend Carolyn.

Native foliage bouquet--muscadine vine, yaupon, some weed, and elm.

Again–a combination of loved items–the girl from a friend when I left Bleyl, the jug was my Granny’s–and I truly have no idea HOW old it is as I scrubbed no telling how many years of bacon grease off of it. The foliage–our yard, in my bare feet and night shirt on Thanksgiving morn.

Granny's table WITHOUT the lamp on.

Granny's table WITH the lamp on. . .

I love having this table in my home. It makes me happy, happy, happy.

Table scape

And I love all these little gems and jewels that keep finding their way to me to join the somewhat monochromatic color scheme I have going on. . .not planned. . .it has just grown here. See that little deer there on the left? It has a story too. And one day, I WILL tell it here. . .’cause only ONE of you five besides me knows it.

This rock I shamelessly STOLE from a garden in Houston. It is a touchstone of sorts.

Feathers from two large birds, and that little wreath of dried grass was made especially for me by my boy at Webelos' Woods. I love it.

Thad and Tony went on a camp-out one weekend. They were gone a long time, but they made it home on the Sunday they arrived back before Victoria and I did (from church). Thad had a pink gift bag with some tissue paper in it–and this wreath. A boy had taught him how to make it out of the long, green grasses that were at the campsite. He also put some little flowers in it. It was intended as a bracelet–but I love it right here with all of my other treasures.

Tony brought this bottle to me from a little shop in Colorado. And do you see what the key says? That truly IS the key.

Christmas ornament from Wal-Mart. $.97. LOVE.

Ahhhh. . .the Thanksgiving feast

Tony's most excellent turkey

The Girl? She grows and grows and grows. . .

There is a story to go with this cake.

One night Victoria and I were making a cake for her edible science project. She got best all around. . .we did a cake like this that represented the layers of the earth. . .ANYWAY–for some reason while we were making it, Victoria said she missed Heather. So I said, “Let’s call her.” Alas–we had cake batter and the like out and I couldn’t easily find their number. So I said, “As SOON as the cake is in the oven, we will get the number and call.” I kid you NOT, those words were hanging in a bubble above my head when the phone rang and it was HEATHER on the other end. She had been playing with a calculator as a phone (she IS a modern kid–Victoria used a melon baller for HER phone) and kept dialing Aunt Roxanne and Tora, so her Momma asked if she REALLY wanted to talk to us. She did. We were having the SAME conversation at the SAME time 48 miles apart. SHUT UP. We told Heather we were making cake to which she replied, “I like cake. I want to eat cake. I want to eat BLUE cake.” Well, by cracky, I was gonna make that baby a blue cake if it was the last thing I did. And so, on Thanksgiving eve, Victoria and I did JUST that–and we threw in her other two favorite colors for good measure. Heather LOVED it. When I cut her slice and held it out on the plate to her, she reached for the CAKE rather than the PLATE and picked it up like a sandwich, then she declared, “This is the BEST cake EVER!!!”

Cousins. Victoria was the only one that was being cooperative.

So thankful for these kiddos. . .though it was a fail at participation.

Happy husband--he's in the woods. That makes him happy.

Our massive burn pile FINALLY burning--in the rain--while Tony and Thad monitor it from the car.

We have been under a mandatory burn ban (for obvious reasons) since the beginning of last October. This burn pile has been sitting there from fallen trees, etc. since last January. The burn ban was finally lifted last Friday, so Saturday morning–IN THE RAIN–Tony lit that sucker on fire. It BURNED. As it POURED rain. Thad suggested they drive the car over to monitor it rather than get wet. And so they did.

Pretty late afternoon light in the clearing

Happy November to you.