Signs of Spring

 

Redbud Tree

Fringe Tree

Barn Swallows

Redbud Tree

Bridal Wreath Bush

What I am not showing is the thick layer of yellow oak pollen which has JMM’s allergies astir. 

Things I Like

 

Sunrise this morning

Things I like

Susan Branch admonishes us to find as many things to love as possible. She’s absolutely right. 

Books

   Way, way too many to list

Kittens/Cats

Puppies/Dogs

Food

   Cookies right out of the oven

   The bread and salad at The Olive Garden 

   My son-in-law’s burgers

Movies

   Miss Potter

   The Harry Potter series

   The Godfather series (Totally out of character for me, but true.)

My home

   Folding warm clothes right out of the drier

   Organizing a drawer or shelf 

   A clean kitchen

My family

Places

   Anywhere in Italy

   Anywhere in the UK

   Anywhere along the California, Oregon, Washington Coast

Sounds

   Classical music

    Bees on flowers

   Waves on the seashore

   Morning birdsong

Art

   Impressionists-Monet and Van Gogh

   Vermeer 

Botanical Gardens 

Birding especially in the Rio Grande Valley or the Texas Gulf Coast

Quilting

Smells

   Almost anything in the oven

   Roses

   Fresh Linens

   Fresh sea air

I’m a bit late in posting my reading for February but better late than never. 

   Ebola: The Natural and Human History of a Deadly Virus by David Quammen ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It is a bit dated and doesn’t go much into the clinical aspects but was very interesting in the hunt for the reservoir of the virus. It was heartbreaking in the parts about the deaths of the great apes from the virus. 

   Honest Aging by Rosanne Leipzig ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Excellent lists of resources. Much of the book I was already familiar with (eat right, exercise, get enough sleep) but learned several helpful things (kidneys don’t concentrate urine as well, need to consume more protein as we age).

   Graceland, at Last by Ruth Renkl. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️How I enjoy her essays on life in the U.S. South in the NTTimes! Having a whole collection of them to read at my leisure was a real treat. The book came out a couple of years ago and she now has another book of essays out that I am looking forward to reading. 

 

Book Lists

 

The lovely Brenda @ It’s A Beautiful Life had a blog post on Book Lists and since I am a very listy person, I couldn’t resist making my own lists. 

Book Lists

1. A favorite (or 2 or 3) from your childhood

  The Little House books (all of them)

  The Louisa May Alcott books (all of them)

  The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace

2. A book you read once but couldn’t stop thinking about

3. A book that shaped your life

     Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

     Today Matters by John Maxwell

     Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez & Vicky Robin

4. A book you couldn’t put down

5. A book with a favorite heroine

6. A book that creates a safe place 

     All of the Miss Read books. I go to Caxley or Thrush Green or to Fairacre to have tea with Miss Clare. 

7. A book that lifts your spirits and makes you feel happy 

8. A book you like to read over and over 

     I have read the Miss Read books countless times.

9. A book you just finished and loved

     Tom Lake by Ann Pachett

10. A book you just started and know you’re going to like

     The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

     

Imagine

 

Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine there’s no heaven

it’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us 

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions 

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

You

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one 

I hope someday you’ll join us 

And the world will be as one. 

Around Oak Meadows

This was the Fall Back time change week. As usual, it just throws my sleep/wake schedule off. It takes at least two weeks to get back to normal. It seems like it’s midnight when it’s only time for the 6pm news. 

We’ve been doing our part to help pay off the veterinarian’s student loans this week. Henry went in for his annual exam and shots. He had a minor ear infection—>topical antibiotic, lab panel—>all is well, and he needs his teeth cleaned. And he is worth every penny of it. 

We gone back to Kristy’s Pet Salon for Angie’s grooming. It’s inconvenient but they do a much, much better job.  She looks so much better. 

Thursday we Brazos Lakes Old Timers got together for lunch at Chili’s. It was so nice to see everyone. Sherry Heitzenrater called everyone and got it all together. We ended up sitting with all the men at one table and women at another. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. 

The Monarchs arrived with the cold front. It is so beautiful to see all the butterflies on the blue mist blooms. As much as the blue mist annoys me 11 months out of the year, but it is spectacular for that one month from the middle of October until the Monarchs leave  in addition to the Monarchs, we’ve had Queens, Gulf Fritillaries, & American Ladies. We haven’t had any Longtailed Skippers at all this year. 

I’m still cutting out the pieces for the 3 lap quilts. I hope to finish getting everything cut in the next week.  Then I can start piecing. I have decided that I’m going to use up my stash and buy only the fabric needed for backing. (We’ll see how that works out…)

 

Around OakMeadows

Journal

Last week we went to see A Haunting in Venice. I was looking forward to seeing Kenneth Branaugh as Hercule Poirot. It was to say the least a disappointment. Over the top melodrama. We watched 30 minutes of previews and 30 minutes of the movie and left. The hot dog was very good though. 

JMM took Angie to the groomer at CBW. We switched from Kristy’s to CBW because it is so much more convenient but I am going back to Kristy’s. CBW charges $80 plus a tip and if I’m going to pay that much money, I want a much better cut than what CBW does. Kristy’s does a much, much better cut. 

I got my latest quilt back from Karen Shively and I must say that it turned out even better than anticipated. Speaking of quilts, I am sending one to Cecelia to be auctioned at their church’s silent auction in October. I was planning to send it to Sue Silverstein for her immigrant families but I’ll send her another one. I’m working on cutting out for 3 lap quilts. The fabric is from a package of French General fat quarters. After that, I want to make table runners. 

We’ve had more hummingbirds than usual this year. Maybe because of the drought, there isn’t as much blooming. Speaking of blooming, we have had bumblebees all over our purple salvia and our plumbago is outdoing itself this year since it loves the heat. JMM planted several more purple salvia and 3 more plumbagos. 

I think my 19 year old clothes dryer is on its last go round. Of course it would go out on a Saturday when it is impossible to get someone out to take a look at it on the weekend. (Just like the dog always gets sick on Friday evenings.) Monday morning, I will see how soon someone can come out. We currently are drying clothes by spreading them out on chair backs and around the house. JMM is looking online for the best new dryers in case this would cost too much to repair. To be continued.  

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