We Are Deep In the Heart of Texas

Nomadic seasons of farming adventures with nature thrown in to include; a pinch of family, snippets of friends, counting our blessings, paying IT forward, home school, and the spicy things I decide to rant about.















Monday, March 30, 2009

I caught a baby goat, YEPPERS.


I caught the little brown faced one through the fence, she is named March. The little black faced one will be called, Aries. More later as I have to ensure they are safe.
































DOUBLE CLICK for closeups....

Saturday, March 28, 2009

MY mindless dribble

My husband took our two sons on a short fishing trip to spend time with extended family from his first wife's side; ie their other brothers and sister.

For the first hour on my own; I just spaced out on the couch with no television listening to:

NOTHING (yes I said NOTHING)

OMG, what a beautiful sound.

Second hour, I felt guilty for lounging so I researched how to make my own dish soap since I know how to make my own laundry detergeant.

Then I listened to NOTHING AGAIN --- OMG I really needed to decompress.......

Third hour, I felt like the supreme heel of all heels and washed, dried, and put away dishes. (DREAMING OF A PORTABLE DISH WASHER; guess what. I now know how to make my own dish washing soap.)

Fourth hour, I spent gathering our little buddies inside their coop. There is always ONE VERY SMART ARSED HEN who decides to make a game of chases. So I spent twenty minutes trying to get her safely inside her coop to no avail.

NOTE HERE: She must have not seen the TWO GUINEAS HENS devoured last night by a large predator then picked clean by red necked vultures and caracaras. I hope she makes it to when hubby comes home because I could no longer see outside.

Fifth hour: Someone pinch me, is this what folks do with their free time at work in offices? I mean three years have gone by and I wonder if the blogging world really works at anything other than a SCREEN. I truly hope my boys and hubby are having fun because now, I am here with nothing to do but turn on the television or read. I feel like a woman of luxury whilst I type my mindless dribble.

SPECIAL NOTE: THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART GIL. I never understood how much I thrive on being around you and our sons. Much love!

Thoughts from inside the coop & rolling in silence.....

Friday, March 27, 2009

When God Hiccups








(Double click to see a enlarged image.)


Yesterday at 2:30 ish p.m.; a tornado touched down near George West. This is pictures from my back yard showing the storm moving behind our property. Two truckers were blown over on the bridge leading into George West on highway 59. We are very fortunate because this is spring break week---Zephyr, Saenz and I drive on this bridge four times a day during the school week. In all, only one with minor injuries and four damaged big rigs. The area lost power for up to three hours.
I feel very blessed no one was seriously hurt.
Thoughts from inside the coop......

Thursday, March 26, 2009

1st Ever PANTY SALUTE to Adam Lambert

In 8 seasons, I am giving my first ever WOO HOO Thrown Panty Salute to Adam Lambert on American Idol for his Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. I usually don't get sappy from the performances on American Idol because they feel false or better yet---commercial.

Yet, this young man and 16 year old Allison Iracheta; I would pay to see either in concert or buy their album. Truly excellent performances and performers. My two choices for this year...........




Thoughts from inside the coop.......

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Duggars soap does work, $1.5 for 90 loads

I made this soap in twenty minutes. I made five gallons (90 loads and currently Tide is $18 for a 76 load bottle) worth and tried it on my floor rugs. I did not add anything but did substitute ZOTE soap which is a local laundry bar soap.

TOTAL chicken momma cost: 1.50 for 90 loads of liquid laundry detergent.

HERE IS THE RECIPE:

How do you make your homemade laundry soap? — Lynn Wilson, Whiting, N.J.
[Editor's note: Many readers were curious about the homemade soap they saw the Duggars make on Discovery Health's "17 Kids and Counting."]


Jim Bob and Michelle: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing soda and Borax can normally be found in the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost: approximately $2.

Homemade liquid laundry soap
Ingredients:4 cups hot tap water 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar 1 cup washing soda ½ cup Borax
Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.


Fill a five-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (It will gel.)

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons. Top-load machine: 5/8 cup per load (approximately 180 loads). Front-load machine: ¼ cup per load (approx. 640 loads).

Best Answer -

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/homestea...1 Whole Bar of Fels-Naptha A Large Pot 1 or 2 Cups of Borax (it works as a deorderizer) 1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing (not baking) soda A Five-Gallon Bucket A Large Stick to Stir with. Broom handles, yard sticks, or a stick from a tree will work fine.

Red Wing Black Birds

I would highly recommend this site for looking up birds. Our yard sounds much like a zoo's aviary because of feed left out in the morning for our free range hens.

Each morning, we spot cardinals, green jays, doves, wood peckers, and herds of these black birds. This morning I bought 4 Tasco Binoculars to aid in our bird or Orinthology Studies check out sportsman guide online store for excellent prices, all four 12 x 70 MM with neck straps, carrying cases and shipping were $105. That beat the heck out of Wal Mart.

Hope you enjoy!


http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-winged_Blackbird.html

Thoughts from inside the coop...

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Buttons: 1st Hatchling 1 Week Old






Buttons was the first hatchling last Saturday. Often people ask; how can I tell the chicks apart. Each beak coloration and feather (downy) spots are different plus, personality helps this chicken mom. Topsy our cat is not warmly welcomed for her curiosity here. Buttons is squawking and running for safety. Next hatch will be Saturday before Easter Sunday; we have another 48 in the incubator.
Thoughts from inside the coop......

Hummingbirds on our back porch











Saturday, March 21, 2009

Can you see what I see?

This was another reminder spring has gotten here. As soon as I saw the little buzzer, I cleaned up the feeders and made nectar for the little Kamikazes. What is so fascinating about these birds are their tenacity. The males are super ferocious for their size much like a banty rooster; they will fight to the death to protect their territory and mate. Maybe the migration from South America has started and this guy is out zipping around for food. This winter, I have seen lots of different birds that are unusual for this area and season. Then again, we are in Texas which does has the largest population of critters of all varieties and I have been blessed to be a witness.

Thoughts from inside the coop...........

Friday, March 20, 2009

Primer spiderweb del resorte

Just a beautiful day here though we have a dense fog advisory until 10 am. From our driveway, there is no FM 1358; and we are wrapped inside a cocoon or in Spanish a 'capullo' of bird sounds and moisture.

Get outside an enjoy the awakenings of Mother Nature.

Thoughts from inside the coop....



Thursday, March 19, 2009

Loving Spring


I have been singing the praises of spring's approach for a couple of weeks now. There is nothing better than Mother Nature sitting up and stretching from her long winter's slumber. Well with her first yawns have come tender blades of grass, thorny weeds popping white flowers, Spanish needles with their blooms atop sturdy necks and mesquite leaves unfurling.
The chick count stands at 23 hatched with a couple of casualties but, this is our first successful incubation.
Thanks Mylegacy!
for your help and suggestions with a proper high powered light for next years' candling of our color shelled eggs.)
With the exception of Buttons (the first hatchling), any banty chick, and Big Bird (a rescue from being stuck in the shell; our home grown yard birds will become part of our freezer stock.
It is fun to watch my husband in the afternoons outside with the boys prepping our garden beds while, I have been standing watch over the hatch since our cats Topsy and Turvy want to play with the new borns. LOL!
Later this afternoon, I will sterilize the incubator and then prepare for a second round of chicks set for a Easter hatch which falls on April 12th this year. This weekend I will order five each: turkey, red production, guinea, and maybe a duck or two in order to gently expand our farm stock.
The best part of this season is spending time as a family working together to bring food to our table and to feed our animals.
Life is good so, be in it -- thoughts from inside the coop........

Monday, March 16, 2009

So Sleepy


I just love this picture.
It was so foggy this morning, I drove 30 mph for the entire 13 mile trip into George West to take Saenz to school. It is really important in this area not to over drive the reach of your fog lights.
Can you imagine hitting a deer, pig, cow, horse or wild turkey because you were driving too fast to stop? It happens all the time here, and the animal 99 out of 100 times pay with their lives. The humans pay for their car repair and perhaps medical bills.
Chick count as of this morning is 7 in the brooder. The six eggs that did not hatch were set out last night, I checked them this morning and they had been eaten with no blood on the inside membrane. In essence, those were unfertilized eggs. Since we have Americanas (blue/green) and Delaware (brown) shell layers; it is darn near impossible to candle them after 72 hours. I have been shopping around for a higher power candling device for the future.
Saenz and Zephyr both thought it was cool to hear the little chick Pipping out and chirping from inside the egg. I have two eggs inside the incubator with peck holes so; later we will have two more babies. It is so hard to let nature run its course by allowing the chick to come on its own merits but, it is a good lesson.
Some of the best things in life should not be rushed.
Thoughts from inside the coop....

Saturday, March 14, 2009

It's official, I am a Granny

I would like to intro you to:

Buttons

Deliver Us From Evil

This movie brought back some ill feelings I have had towards those in power; stripping the right to truth and knowledge of those in their command.

This film was about a Catholic Priest, Oliver O'Grady sexually assaulting unknown number of children in the parishes he worked in--his superiors just kept moving him, it was in his personnel files. Stunning is the fact (however not surprising the cover-up), of those in power wanting to keep their worldly status and afraid to tell the truth or rock the proverbially boat.

What really bothers me about this film, is certain positions of AUTHORITY (especially in GOD'S House or a PRIEST/RABBI/PASTOR etc, etc....) no one thinks to question untoward behavior. BECAUSE, "the sheep/flock" have faith in those appointed or anointed over them.

_______________________

Another thought, why is it that 'faith-based' businesses: need lawyers on hand to answer such charges if indeed, they could just turn over the accused to the justice system?.

Yes Gentle Reader, it's a business if said business collects monies in order, to employ workers (priests and said laypersons are paid/housed/schooled and other areas of living expenses met) to expand it span of control. And here you can argue, those monies collected are used for good works of human kindness which is true to some degree but in this, I digress since this financial/definition will be addressed in a later blog.

____________________



Now I ask myself, have I been a member of the flock, trusting those appointed to lead me, peers, and co-workers while serving.

I would have to say a resounding YES.

In the late 1980s, while station at Clark AB, Philippines, I walked into my dorm room after a night of clubbing; to discover my room mate being sexually assaulted. Get this, I yelled the man's name--I knew him, he outranked us both. He bolted out of the rooming pulling on his clothes as he left.

She had passed out from drinking so, I left the room to call the first sergeant. Long story short the Security Forces were called. He was taken to the hospital (drunk and had been found choking in his own vomit.) and later placed in military confinement. She was taken to the hospital for a rape kit and later released. I, who had a few drinks as well that night was taken for questioning. BOTH he and she lost their security clearances for a short period of time.

So a few months go by, this man (whom I found repugnant & harbored feelings of violence toward) was placed back in her duty section while being sent to alcohol counselling. She and I were sent for a mental health evaluations; no one could believe a 'SENIOR' would do such a thing--thus we were treated as liars and usurpers. Point is, I had blindly believed in those who were our leaders. I believed in the system (HAD FAITH) they and we would do the right thing. Much like the Catholic Church in this movie, the senior leadership protected it's own and threw 'children' to the lions.

FLASH BACK TO NOW:

This movie is a must see because those in positions of power and trust should be held to a higher standard of morality; if found guilty of criminal deeds should be punished more harshly. Those who covered up for Father O'Grady damaged far more than the possibility of them attaining higher office within the Catholic church.

One father of a victim was so devastated, he lost his faith; his daughter is still single with no 'hope' of getting her father to walk her down the aisle if she decides to marry in the future. Thus lives are still in limbo. Hundreds of children (now adults male & female), mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, and others were destroyed not only in their own

HOUSE OF FAITH

but in their home within their hearts.

I will add this here: Nothing has taken away the shock, guilt and pain of this event in the twenty years since it occurred.

Thoughts from inside the coop.......

Thursday, March 12, 2009

(Bloggers of which I speak are on the eBay blogs.)

I have sat back and watched the last six months bloggers with lots of uncomfortable disgust. I see the term “freedom of expression” thrown about in order, to defend slicing others verbally. The only good thing I can say about Perfume (id changed to protect her business) is at least she doesn’t hide her racist beliefs under a zero identification by calling (joking) President Obama (inferred) Sambo; or blatantly displaying an avatar of Sambo that was used to humiliate millions of persons of color.

Seeing others inferred to ‘illegal aliens’ (Mexicans) as taking away jobs from hard-working Americans; who (said Americans) in actuality would not be caught dead working fields for less than $8 dollars an hour and living in company owned housing.

I have seen folks here decry and denounce socialism while they in fact ‘reap’ the benefits by taking: Stimulus payments, welfare, disability, library usage, emergency room visits, allow firemen to put out fires, call 911 for chicken McNugget disputes, accept donations in time of need, go to public parks etc., etc., etc.

I have served in one of the largest ‘socialized’ organizations (US MILITARY) in the free-world for twenty years to provide these folks; a blanket of STUPIDITY in which, to wrap their lunacy, self loathing, and isolationistic selves under rocks of verbal cruelty. What bothers me most is the lack of acceptance of others views, conversations, ideals, ideas, religion because these ‘COWARDS’ (thinking of Attorney General Holder’s speech) invoking the term of ‘FREEDOM OF SPEECH’ have sacrificed nothing but are living off the sweat, blood, lives of millions so, they can sit behind a computer screen and lament about this country’s elected officials.

And yes, I have come to realize while I put in my time; “STANDING WATCH;” I guess I am asking all of you--will you tolerate this lack of unity, common respect, and verbal abuse in the name of humor? Will you continue to support those who would seek to silence (actually your silence is implied consent) other’s in the name of Freedom of Speech, when in fact you are giving up your own.


Thoughts from inside the coop.....

For the entire speech of Attorney Gen Holder:
http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2009/02/18/full-text-us-attorney-general-eric-holder-remarks-on-black-history-month-nation-of-cowards/

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Bad Hair Day: Going Back to Bed

It's supposed to rain here today, with temps falling 30+ degrees. SO, I will be napping!

I have spent the morning walking half bent over with a stiff back and joints so; maybe --just maybe -- the weather forecasters are correct this time.

Hilliary will probably have her kids tonight, full moon and cold, wet weather. So like a goat to have her babies in inclement weather. Just in case Hilliary has problems with nursing, I have dried colostrum and replacer milk in the deep freezer with tons of towels ready. Thing is, I believe with Hubby's help; we should stake out Obama since he is such a butt-head (literally). We have to threaten him with the water hose; when he gets 'butty' at the feed trough.

Hopefully though, this will be the last cold front then we can get to plant our 4 to 5 garden beds (one for tomatoes, one for corn/beans/squash, one for herbs, one for root plants & a variety of vegetables, and then the melons and cukes). Woooo Hooo! No more store veggies, herbs and will only need to shop for milk, fruit and bread on a weekly basis.

Next week, our first clutch of eggs will begin hatching on Monday. This weekend, I will have to prepare the brooders and buy bedding. Then clean the incubator and set a second batch aside for an Easter hatch. I do need to place an order at Parker's for a few Red Production hens to replace Ms. Henny Penny for Saenz and may even order 5 or 6 turkey hens. Also, I will have to contact Mr. York to order some more guinea keats; we really enjoy them and admire all the bugs they eat. Mr. Salad Fingers had not gotten his mates yet, so hopefully any day two new female piglets will be joining our happy farm family.

Farm Update & Thoughts from inside the coop......


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Looking Back to Look Forward


This was our home on Andrews AFB, Maryland, 2004-5. Though we knew soon; I would retire from active duty. We still kept our quarters up to military standards and planted flowers, trimmed shrubs and worked the beds.

I really miss the seasons of Maryland and all of the East Coast. The grass was so lush; going barefoot was actually a requirement.

Who would have thought; Saenz holding a chicken on a fall school trip would turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy? He is now our 'chicken wrangler." Both our sons confidence has soared around animals and people. Perhaps one day, they will be successful at their chosen professions but, most importantly----Living Life.



THOUGHTS FROM INSIDE THE COOP.....

Monday, March 9, 2009

Movie Review: No End in Sight

"The American Occupation of Iraq - The Inside Story From the Ultimate Insiders."

"Chronological look at the fiasco in Iraq, especially decisions made in the spring of 2003 - and the backgrounds of those making decisions - immediately following the overthrow of Saddam: no occupation plan, an inadequate team to run the country, insufficient troops to keep order, and three edicts from the White House announced by Bremmer when he took over: no provisional Iraqi government, de-Ba'athification, and disbanding the Iraqi armed services. The film has chapters (from History to Consequences), and the talking heads are reporters, academics, soldiers, military brass, and former Bush-administration officials, including several who were in Baghdad in 2003. Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com} "

Captured from Internet Movie Database:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6182969183854471645 (for those with speakers)

MY REVIEW: Every adult should watch this video.

Going Green with Maxwell House

Since, we used this brand with the plastic container. It just seems a waste to put the containers in a land fill. So we have used to for storage, feed scoops, water containers, school projects, and now.

DRUM ROLL

Planters to keep the chickens from eating our young plants. We just used zip ties to raise them off the ground from our "Feathered Locusts" and Hubby drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. So, if you drive up and see lines of blue then you know we have tender vittles a growing.

ROFL

Thoughts from inside the coop........

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Bumpy Butt?

Isn't this a beauty? Double click on the image to count this gorgeous animals bumpy ridges.

How about loving someone from different backgrounds?







Are you looking at me?












This is one of our neighbors bulls. I think he is absolutely a stunning; sthexy-----stud muffin. ROFL, But to each their own.

Friday, March 6, 2009

1 of these things is not like the


Other Can you guess which one it is? LOL




Crab walking in Texas high winds.














Morning Shopping Spree

Who can resist shopping? Zephyr is beeping at me to get out of his way. LOL

He has an itch for the 'toy display.'

We met Mrs. Lily this morning at Super S in George West. I will drop eggs off for her this afternoon at the Three Rivers Flea Market. Hopefully, we will get to see Mrs. Honey as well. Get this, due to Zephyr's innate charm we met a lady who name is: PUNKY. I would love to meet this lady's parents. LOL, my kind of folks......


BEEP BEEP COMING THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

BELLY UPDATE


HERE SHE IS:
"MISSUS OAKVILLE--Hilliary"
Any guesses at to when she will have her kids?
Our bad boy billy, OBAMA knocked her up good.
(Hubby has a 'soft spot' for her because she is so sweet.)
PSSSSSSST Don't tell I said that. ROFLMNCBOH
Thoughts from inside the coop........

Blast from the Past: Oakville (2)


This morning Zephyr and I went to the hill again to poke around. Can you imagine this place with criminals spitting tobacca on the floor or out the windows. Since it was closed, I will try to contact the owner. It's amazing to think about the persons who built this town which is slowly fading into history. Will we become a 'bump' in the road of life?


Next we will explore the wishing well to the right of this scene. Way cool, I have to remember to take some coins with me. Do you think folks got their 'copper' intake from drinking well water with pennies pitched in for wishes?



















The other pictures of the Sheriff's car are found here. It reminds me of a PT Cruiser.

Thoughts from inside the coop.......
http://saenzmom.blogspot.com/2009/03/blast-from-past-oakville.html

Older pictures of the Jailhouse are here:
http://www.texasescapes.com/Jails/Live-Oak-County-Jail-Texas.htm

More history here:
http://www.texasescapes.com/SouthTexasTowns/OakvilleTx/OakvilleTexas.htm

Beauty in Simple Things

ENJOY: Need I say anything more?

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

On a Sad Note: For Dani


I watch Oprah when she is not 'telling us how to live' a more opulent life. Yesterday's story on Danielle the feral child found in Florida made me do some research this morning.
Part One: The Feral Child

PLANT CITY — The family had lived in the rundown rental house for almost three years when someone first saw a child's face in the window.

A little girl, pale, with dark eyes, lifted a dirty blanket above the broken glass and peered out, one neighbor remembered.

Everyone knew a woman lived in the house with her boyfriend and two adult sons. But they had never seen a child there, had never noticed anyone playing in the overgrown yard.
The girl looked young, 5 or 6, and thin. Too thin. Her cheeks seemed sunken; her eyes were lost.
The child stared into the square of sunlight, then slipped away.

Months went by. The face never reappeared.

Just before noon on July 13, 2005, a Plant City police car pulled up outside that shattered window. Two officers went into the house — and one stumbled back out.
Clutching his stomach, the rookie retched in the weeds.

Plant City Detective Mark Holste had been on the force for 18 years when he and his young partner were sent to the house on Old Sydney Road to stand by during a child abuse investigation. Someone had finally called the police.

They found a car parked outside. The driver's door was open and a woman was slumped over in her seat, sobbing. She was an investigator for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
"Unbelievable," she told Holste. "The worst I've ever seen."

And here I add, THANK HEAVENS for her adoptive parents, the folks who found her, who reported the neglect, therapists, doctors and other support personnel and the authors of this article. There are many children, let alone other people out there who have fallen 'out of view' in society. Just think about that as you go about your day.

Blast from the Past: Oakville





My hat is off to whom ever is restoring this vehicle. I will stop one morning and take pictures of the old jail house that is now a bed & breakfast. It's so peaceful on this hill in the morning. More time needs to be dedicated to the simplicity of quiet.

Thoughts from inside the coop......











What's in a face?


MY HEART!
Here is Zephyr this morning standing on the bumper of our farm truck looking out from Oakville.
There is nothing better than seeing our boys smile.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Ssssssh Don't Tell

Seems the warring factions in our 'free range' yard has called a truce. Don't tell, I busted the chickens and guinea fowl getting along. No more West Side Story face offs on the lawn or at the watering stations.

Double click to bring in the picture. The guineas would have bolted to have been discovered. LOL!

Now someone, go tell the rest of the world we need peace talks then bug hunting.

Monday, March 2, 2009

1st and Last Chore of My Day

I open and roll these 48 beauties 4 times a day to keep the embryos fluid inside the egg.

Last time we used the egg tray to turn the eggs but could not keep the temperature regulated because of filling the water reservoirs.

As you can see most of our eggs have a greenish blue tint to the shell because these were laid by Americana chickens. Other than Buff, Orphington hens, Americanas are the best layers year round for us. Believe it or not, I have train all of our Americanas to lay on two lawn chairs with a pillow in the seat on our back porch. For the most part, we do not have to hunt down their eggs.

So between March 16-20th, we should begin getting little peeps and chicks.

King has been dethroned:

On February 23rd, I wrote about Alpha having been injured and my giving him First Aid. Well his trusty followers as seen in the pictures from that day were not in fact awaiting the return of the king.

Instead, his second in command, Romeo decided to take the opportunity to become 'King' and fight injured Alpha for his rightful place. Now, I did try to keep the two Brahma Banty roosters from harming each other but, I learned my lesson.

Chickens need a fully established Pecking Order to maintain discipline. So, I left them to their own devices. Little did I know our first natural hatched chicken, Uno, son of Red Rocky had his own plans. Uno waited for Alpha and Romeo to fight out who would be 'King' and then he fought the winner, Romeo. Not only was Uno a savvy rooster but in the picture above is Romeo hiding from both Alpha and Uno.

Gotta love, depise, or respect male dominance at its best in the animal world. Males beating each other to bloody messes over the chance of a few mating opportunities. And this has to be Darwin's Theory of Survival of the fittest.

First part of story here: On Feb 23, 2009.
http://saenzmom.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html
Thoughts from inside the coop.....

Hubby's Favorite Woman ~:>

He loves the smell of the blooms of this Mountain Laurel in our front yard. A sure sign spring is around the corner is its heavely fragrance. I can't usually get close to this tree because of the bees. So he is the one who takes care of this lovely lady.
The blooms are so pretty with their shades of purples and creamy whites. In a few weeks, Ms. Laurel will be so heavy with bloom; her green leaves will just peek out like a slip from the bottom of a lady's dress.
Double click on the image and you will be able to 'almost' smell
the blooms.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Upturned Hand

Here is another of my favorite trees. This one is on the way to Beeville, and reminds me of an upturned hand. Next time, if I have my boots on I will have to take closeups. Do people take after nature or nature after people? In my opinion, we take after nature.


Double click to see it more clearly.