Day 25...I miss my grandpa

Earl James Draves : March 13, 1917 - February 7, 1989...my grandpa.  We didn't have him long enough.

Day 24 ... Texas Family Farm

The sound of the windmill in the breeze is wonderful.  If you stand there long enough, close your eyes...you can imagine life in that little house.  I can hear and smell the cattle in the field...smell the wild plum blossoms...see white cotton sheets hanging on the clothes line.

Day 23...Lovely Butterfly

I went with Leanne to Palo Pinto the other day.  We were thinking of taking a Master Gardener class.  Ended up being too structured for us.  We did enjoy the garden tour around the Palo Pinto Courthouse and the Extension office. Many butterflies were enjoying the "Blue Mist" in one of the gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 22...sorry I'm behind.

I made a friend today...

Day 21...Dog Tired

I don't know who's photo this is...but it reflects how we feel right now.  It must be the excessive heat we are having right now in Texas.  I'm off to shower, set the coffeepot and crawl in bed. Night all....

Day 20...Beautiful Pears...August 14, 2010

We'd just stopped at Amelias for Breakfast Burritos and Jerry noticed what he thought were peach trees in a yard.  He thought they were pretty enough to turn around and take a look.  Turned out they were Pears...gorgeous pears.  The homeowner invited us to pick a bag.  I have enough for a batch or two of Pear preserves.  Yummmm

Day 19....2009 Photo Collage

2009 was a year of big change for me...New adventure, New recipes and New Babies.

Day 18.....Making Wine...August 12, 2010

This day Jerry was siphoning the raw Mustang Grape Wine from the Must. The smell was outstanding. I can't wait till we taste it.  So glad we picked enough grapes to try this.  I have a feeling its gonna be great!

Day 17...Mom

Today...August 11, 2010 is my Mother's 71st birthday. My sister had her and my Dad over for a birthday dinner of Taco's and Strawberry Pie.  They are in Michigan...I'm in Texas.  I miss the family dinner celebrations...I miss my Mom.  See you soon everyone.

Day 16...Kitchen Elves...Tuesday August 10, 2010

Two grandchildren are visiting this week. Nolan...almost 7 and Avery almost 6.  They helped fix tacos for dinner and were excited to wear their new aprons.

Day 15...Pioneer Biscuits

Ahhhh Biscuits....

Day 14...The Metal Fan

The Metal Fan...

 

 

 

I was at Walmart last week, picking up a few things I thought we needed before Paige came to visit. The extra bedroom/sewing room seems to be a little warmer than the rest of the apartment, so I was looking for a fan to help with cooling.  Right there before my eyes was a lovely metal fan. Right away memories from my childhood came rushing back.

We grew up in Michigan.  Our Dad's family lived in Arkansas.  We visited there in June, after school was out.  By then it was hot summertime in Arkansas. My sister and I shared a bed at our grannies, a big old feather bed. We slept in light cotton, shorty pajama's...in a dark room shared with our parents. I remember thinking how old and musty everything smelled...how hot we were. I can still hear  the sound of the old metal fan...blowing warm air on us.

The fan is in our spare room..I find myself turning it on just to hear it run.  Ahhh summertime.

Day 13...Spiderweb

Wow...

Day 12...Dragonfly...August 6, 2010

I was driving down to the river to pick grapes.  The dragonflies were everywhere.  Amazing.

Day 11...Mesquite Tree

This dead Mesquite is near the Brazos River at the ranch.  Jerry cut part of it to use for smoking ribs.  I asked him to leave this part standing...it just looks so interesting standing there.  Thank you Cowboy....

Day 10...Pecan Tree

Native Pecans growing down on the river.  Jerry tells me they will be small and because they haven't been sprayed, they will be wormy.  He showed me how to crush a handful of leaves and smell them...helps to identify the tree before the pecans are growing.  There are other trees in the area that look like Pecans.  The leaves do smell differently.

Day 9...Summertime Fun

My sister Patty and I sunbathing in Onaway, MI.  Our grandparents had a trailer house on a wooded lot. There was a flowing well that had the coldest, best tasting water ever. We used to go spend time in the summer, walking to Black Lake, stopping by "Wickerts" little store to buy the special candy that we only had in the summer. Gram would cook breakfast over an old woodstove she had in the yard.  Fried potatoes, bacon, eggs and camp toast...sigh...Very good memories of a happy childhood.

Day 8...Me and My Cowboy

We attended a wedding hosted by our friends.  It was held in the same spot that we were married over a year ago.

We made the cake...the reception was held outside in the Texas heat.  Thank goodness the cake didn't melt.

Day 7...Firewheels

The Wildflowers were especially nice this spring. We were surrounded by them everywhere we went.   It was all I could do not to stop every couple of miles to take a new photo.

Day 6...Paige Olivia...July 31, 2010

Meet Paige, Jerry's oldest granddaughter. This was her birthday pillow a couple months ago.  She is spending a few days with us before school starts.