Weblog

Sunday, 30 November 2008

  • Our Thanksgiving

    My husbands family always goes to the Texas A&M vs tu (University of Texas) game for Thanksgiving, staying several days either in Austin or College Station to enjoy the fun, food and football. Here are 3 of the photos I took while in Austin - IMG_0605 our state capitol, the Longhorn band IMG_0619 and the stadium at the end of the game. IMG_0622 (I know "Alive-in-Vegas" will love these photos!) We sat 5 rows from the top of the new addition to the zone. The rest of our group was on row 6 behind the Aggie team. Some in the family went to Texas while the others to A&M.

    We have our big meal at a hotel buffet and this time I ate as much sushi as turkey. The weather was warm and humid. Now it's time to do a little shopping for Christmas and put up the decorations!

Sunday, 13 July 2008

  • Latest News

    I read each xanga posting but just don't write many of them. However, here I go!

    Our latest news is about a 5 week old baby. My daughter and her husband have become foster-to-adopt parents and they now have a precious baby boy in their home. It amazes me at the number of kids taken by Child Protective Services. They have been offered 12 other children in the last 6 weeks, but this is the only one they have taken. Hopefully they will be able to adopt him . . . and their plans are to foster-to-adopt an infant girl as well. I am very proud of them for taking on this responsibility . . . and I cherish having another baby in the family to love. I'd post a picture if I could, but can't until he is officially adopted.

    Have any of you ever had shingles? Well, I would not recommend it. I'm into week 3 and it has not completely gone away yet. My case was mild - the rash was just under one ear and on my neck - but it causes pain, burning, enlarged lymph glands and fever, plus I could not stand anything touching it - not jewelry, clothes or even my hair and being outside in the heat made it worse. At first I thought it was a couple of mosquito bites, then it spread into an area of about 3 inches. It only happens to people who once had the chicken pox. So weird.

    We enjoy feeding the backyard birds and this year the feeders are filled with hungry white winged dove.

    white winged dove





Tuesday, 08 April 2008

  • Queen for a day

    Their hands are fast and their skill level is adequate, but they don't speak English or have the same feeling of ownership as I do.  Those are the 2 things I am having to deal with.

    This afternoon two workers from a local lawn care company are freeing our flower beds and shrub areas of dreaded weeds. 

    I've tried to kill the weeds and even tried to contain some of the unwanted stuff, like honeysuckle, with not much luck. 

    So, today I feel like a queen.  Someone else is cleaning up out the weeds.  And they are going to do it on an ongoing basis for a year.  What a luxury!  I never thought I'd see this day. 

    Lots of people pay for a house cleaner,  have their nails done or their hair dyed.  I don't do any of that.  In fact, most of the time I even cut my own hair.  So, this is my luxury.

    I love flowers.  Larry loves a clean bed.  I love to entertain in our home and especially the back yard this time of year.  Larry says no as long as we have messy beds.  So, this is a great solution and we will both enjoy the results. 

    Plus now I can entertain more . . . and have lots of empty spaces in the flower bed to fill in with more plants, including veggies and herbs!

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

  • Niagara Falls

    Just returned from a trip to NY state and a visit to Niagara Falls. It was amazing with all the ice and snow surrounding the actual falls. Not many people were touring so we had excellent views and photo opportunities. It was 25° F with light wind. Half of the river was frozen and snow or ice covered the ground, sidewalks, hand rails and roofs.

    The Falls

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

  • Count Your First Cousins

    This is a challenge to see if anyone has more first cousins than I do. 

    I can't think of a better way to show LOVE on this Valentines Day than to share some of my family memories with you.

    Both of my parents came from large families, so I had lots of Aunts and Uncles.  And lots of first cousins.  The photo below shows my Dad (the tall one in the middle) and his siblings and parents - 1955.  My Mom had 8 brothers and sisters. 

    I actually know (or knew) most of the cousins and enjoyed growing up with them.  Our family often spent vacations and weekends visiting relatives.  Some of my best childhood memories are with my first cousins on the beach or eating fresh shrimp Galveston, learning to ride a motorcycle in deep east Texas, roaming the woods and ponds of Lucas (near the present Southfork Ranch - as in the TV show Dallas) and other great adventures.

    From the photo below only one aunt is alive today.



    So, count your first cousins (from your parents only not your spouse's family)
    and see if you can top my count of 44!