Friday, March 12, 2010

Skywatch Friday




Today's Central Texas sky is background to a flowering peach tree. Peaches from this part of Texas are some of the best tasting ever put in your mouth. We commonly refer to them as Fredericksburg peaches. Since we've had so much rain these past 6 months, the ground is soaked, and we should get a bumper peach crop.

For more skies around the world, go here.

Until next time, God bless.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday


Murrieta 365 has a wonderful meme, Straight Out of the Camera Sunday. Everyone is invited to join in. There are two rules: 1) photo must have been taken by you, and 2) no tweaking. Cropping is not considered tweaking and is allowed.

Found this wildflower in the yard today and think it is in the Evening Primrose family.

Spring is just around the corner! Hooray! Spotting color in and around the house is stirring up a desire to get the garden in shape.

For more SOOC Sunday, click here.

Until next time, God bless.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday



Join in the fun by participating in Murrieta 365 meme, Straight Out of the Camera Sunday. There are two rules: 1) photo must be taken by you, and 2) no tweaking, cropping allowed.


Snow in Central Texas on Tuesday. Dogs were full of energy.

I loved the way the setting sun danced off the clouds above this past Thursday evening.

Go here for more photos.

Until next time, God bless.

Cabbage From The Garden

As a first year veggie gardener, I've been trying a little of this and that to see what grows well for me , i.e., meaning that I'm not known for a green thumb. :D For winter crops, I planted a small space with broccoli and cabbage. The main reason for wanting to grow cabbage, as well as broccoli, is that I've read how both these vegetables may give extra protection against the growth of cancer cells. Here is an article that I just ran across today. I do not buy into all that is "thought," but if eating certain veggies or fruits give you an edge over cancer or other serious illnesses, bring it on. I'll include it in my diet if it is the least bit palatable, except Brussel sprouts. If there is a health benefit to that vegetable, I'll pass.

I've been holding off harvesting the cabbage since I could not forget seeing little, green worms turning the leaves into lace. Look, I'm a city girl through and through and only know to visit a grocery for fresh fruit and vegetables. But with this recall and that recall, I do not overly trust the grocery; hence, the garden. I'm also trying to overlook the fact that insects are around when growing your own. I abhor creepy, crawlie things.

Ten years ago I planted a tomato bush. One day I stopped to break off some suckers, etc. When I pulled my arm away from the bush it was covered with green horn worms. I freaked out. I never touched the bush again and it died. Last year was my first attempt in 10 years to grow tomatoes. It was a bad year for tomatoes for all, but rest assured, every time I was fiddling around the tomato bushes, I was on the lookout for green horned worms.

I'm doing a pot of pinto beans for dinner tonight. I've always seasoned my beans with ham or bacon but have sworn off pork for a variety of reasons. I'm trying to get a good flavor in the beans which is not happening at the moment. Hubby thought cole slaw would be good along with the beans which is why the cabbage was harvested. The cabbage made it through an ice storm in January and this week's snow.


When slicing the cabbage, I looked for dead green worms trapped between the leaves but nary a one was found. Seasoned gardeners are probably laughing their heads off at me. Instead of cole slaw, I mixed up an all-in-one dish of extra lean, ground round, onions, garlic, cabbage, carrots, and corn. The cabbage was very tasty and there are three cabbage heads yet to be harvested.

Spring is just around the corner. What are your gardening plans? Are you preparing your garden for Spring plantings? If so, veggies, flowers or combination? Will you be buying plants or start from seed?

Until next time, God bless.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Brenda's Photo Challenge

Wood is the theme of this week's Brenda's Photo Challenge.

Handcrafted mesquite cross by a friend which hangs in my prayer closet.

Matches on hand in my prayer closet to light candles.

First attempt at a pattern cut from a used envelope for a tea cozy. Paper is made from wood fibers. I made a mistake in calculating the size; it should be almost twice the size it is here. Oh, the pattern sits on a wood desk top. :D

Click here for more photos.

Until next time, God bless.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Yea! Snow! And, Lost Dogs

Yea! We got about 2-3 inches of snow today.

I took this around 7:30 to 8:00 AM, but it snowed most of the day.


Dog trot which encircles the house. lol



Never having seen snow, both dogs would not leave the porch until I walked off into the snow.

Maggie decided to eat it to see if she could figure out what was that white stuff. It was interesting watching them be leery of the snow and investigate.


Once both dogs decided that the white stuff was not going to eat them, the rough housing was on.

Maggie usually starts it.

They had a big time.

Maggie holds her own against Luc.

We looked out the window to see two lost dogs making a run at our cows. By the time I slipped into my yellow, rubber boots and was out the door, both dogs were standing in front of the yard gate, no doubt hoping it would magically open. They were very happy to see a human. This rescue mission turned out much better than the one in December because I did not get a broken bone and make a trip to the doctor. Fortunately, the Great Pyrenees had tags. The other one did not. I reached the owner who was scouring the area for her dogs. She was only 3-4 minutes away from my house.

She was amazed that her dogs had traveled so far from her house which is about 25 minutes from mine. We don't necessarily deal in miles around here but in minutes from one place to another. lol She mentioned that her dogs almost never leave their property, but probably in all the excitement of the snow they got off and could not smell their way back home because of the snow. Anyway, she and her son picked up the dogs and away they went.

We've had quite a few lost dogs appear over the years, and I am always glad that we can help get them back home.

Until next time, God bless.

Photography Challenge

I've run across a neat photography challenge: The Pioneer Woman's Photography Assignments. The theme is "Share Your Dog Portraits"; one entry per day. BTW, I follow this woman and she is a hoot.

It is easy. Go to the blog address, click on the link provided, join Flickr if not a member, join the group, upload your photos, click on photo file, send email to the group, and voila, the photo appears in the group.


This is my favorite photo of Luc which was sent today.


This my favorite photo of Maggie which will be sent tomorrow.

Join in the fun and there are prizes!

Until next time, God bless.