Saturday, November 29, 2008

the little cowgirl celebrates birthday number four at the little buckaroo ranch!












We are in a hundred-year drought and have had record high temps this year, but of course on Miss Aurora's b-day party-day we have 58 and drizzly! But it was wonderfully memorable. The chill brought everyone out around the campfire, and made the coziness when we came back home (with the relatives) all that much more delightful. Aurora had her very first pony ride today and took to it like a true Texan. She also loved feeding the goats and petting the soft snuggly rabbit and tiny bantam rooster (they said they had the only friendly rooster in Texas but they were wrong! our Pepper is still awful sweet . . . )

Aurora's favorite gift might have been Frederico ferret--from Laurel! She also got lots of fun games and arts and crafts materials, a pop-up book about the desert, some red cowgirl boots . . . the list goes on!

I had fun making the cake and arraying it with a little pond and fence and trail, and plastic animals from Michael's. Aurora was sweet and gracious and held it together with great composure through the whole party, which is tough at her age! We were all thrilled that she was happy and enjoyed it all, as we had a turnout of almost 40 folks and she could easily have been overwhelmed!

Enjoy the photos!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

this is getting stranger . . .

So I just went out to the hen yard to collect eggs and Pepper emerged from the little nesting area the hens have chosen . . . I found an egg there . . . it was warm . . . it had one of his/her/its??? tail feathers stuck to it. What????

Friday, November 21, 2008

a little more . . .


Howdy gentle readers. I've begun a new blog that will be open access, and will not contain all the scintillating personal familial info that this one does. You can check it out at: http://limestonebutterfly.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 20, 2008

pepper


I've been wanting to get around to blogging about this for awhile . . . You know our "hen" Pepper?? Well, she doesn't lay eggs . . . and she's growing spurs . . . and she crows. We discovered this one morning when Aurora and I opened up the chicken coop, she/he ran two crazy laps around the chicken yard, and then COCK A DOODLE DOO. SO. We have a rooster. Luckily, Pepper seems to not have all that much testosterone, is not bothering the hens (yet) and only crows in the morning after we let him out of the coop. And, Pepper seems protective of the girls, which could be a good thing if some vicious predator comes around. A bit of a funny anecdote nevertheless. Let's just hope Pepper doesn't get too proud of his crowing skills!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

busy bees and butterflies, and the lovely eldar pine






The butterflies and bees are going nuts over our big blooming rosemary bush (and the turk's cap too)! There is a hum surrounding it that makes me wish I had some beehives . . . I wonder what rosemary honey would taste like?

I also just ordered and received two sapling Eldar Pines (also known as Mondell or Afghan pines, pinus brutia). We have a full-grown specimen on our land that I adore, and when I asked Adrienne she said that they had planted it and that it had grown like gangbusters! It is one of the very few pines that will grow out here and is quite rare. Most pines like acidic soil, not alkaline and dry like ours. We are hoping to use them as a screen at the bottom of the field. I've included shots of them and our gorgeous full-grown specimen.

the firetruck park






As most of you know, I spent some of the most important years of my childhood in Southside Place USA (smack in the middle of Houston, but its own city nevertheless). My brother and sister and I spent many an hour at the Southside park and pool. It is now known all over Houston as "firetruck park" because of the old refurbished firetruck which has always been in residence there. Here are some shots of the kids (and my dad!) having fun times at the firetruck park!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

the moon does it again . . . and a gorgeous day at the zoo







So they had that babe! On Monday, so just before the full moon. Sander Elliot. Awesome!

We are in Houston for the weekend and had a superb day for zoo-going today. It was 60's and clear, about the best weather anyone could hope for, anywhere, at any time of year. The sea lions were revved up by the cooler weather and gave a demonstration of recycling, and both girls had good energy for running amuck.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

had to share the moon with you



The moon is full, or at least close, tonite. And the lady the other side of Longhorn Skyway just had a baby girl! The pull of that big orb in the sky is strong . . . We are hoping that dear friends Adam and Sarah (whose babe is due any day!) will get to welcome their newcomer soon! When I was pregnant with both my girls, the contractions always came the strongest right before a thunderstorm or on the full or new moon. Wild how connected it all is.

point taken





So. Far be it from me to presume that my life is not all lollipops and rainbows. Look what I woke up to this morning. No joke. I guess I truly cannot get away with complaining. We are ridiculously lucky.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

how i feel today . . .


This image from one of Aurora's recent drawings pretty well sums up how I feel today. A bit overstretched, perhaps. Laurel has decided that sleeping is not for her, but that she really likes nursing and whining. Aurora just likes whining. And the garage is a mess! And they won't finish that damn house down the hill from us!

Oh yes--and I almost forgot. It NEVER FUCKING RAINS HERE.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

happy morning in the meadow! (mostly)







We had such a delightful morning playing out on the swingset and frisking up the dog, but we did have a bit of a mishap (we will be conservative in our swing-pushing from now on). Aurora has just a little bump to remind us . . .

super chickens!





My girls are laying again! In addition to their new food, I have added a light on a timer in their coop that comes on each morning around 3:30am, to simulate springtime. And they have responded so quickly!

William Christenberry





I am so fascinated by this photographer, by his combined love and fear of the south. His photos are so compelling, I could stare at them for hours--obsessing over the light falling across a shattered window, or the imagined former residents of one of his signature houses, or the aging/changing of the land.
http://www.artknowledgenews.com/William_Christenberry.html