A Potager Garden

vintage handbags

2011-03-27T18:59:00.002-05:00

MCRD San Diego California; where Marines are made

2010-12-15T03:34:00.003-06:00

MCRD San Diego, November 24 2010. I could not be prouder of my son. We left the depot immediately after the ceremony to fly home. A crowded airport and plane but we didn't care. We brought our Marine home for the Holidays. God Bless our men and women in uniform, those stationed here and abroad. We now have two children wearing military uniforms.

holiday envelope

2010-11-03T05:14:00.003-05:00

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, folded into envelopes for mailing christmas cards. My daughter found the idea while she was surfing the net for wedding ideas. I had an old book with the cover gone. It was a collection of Dr. Seuss books that my children had read years ago. Now they are grown and the book was found up in the attic, waiting for a new life. And I have one, envelopes for mailing our christmas greeting cards.

Our Trip to Paris

2010-11-01T07:00:00.006-05:00

A busy summer; in my absence a daughter and son-in-law moved to England, a Son joined the Marines and left for Basic Training in San Diego, a daughter got braces and is car shopping and another daughter passed the oklahoma bar and become engaged. Phew! a busy summer, oh...and We went to Paris! lol

Enoch Stomp Winery & Vineyard

2010-06-21T06:49:00.005-05:00

A few Sundays ago we visited the Enoch Stomp winery and vineyard. The further adventures of Texas Wineries has also taken us to the Dallas/Fort Worth area but more on the metro wineries later. Enoch Stomp is tucked away into rolling hills in East Texas just outside of Longview. The long drive up to the tasting room gives a glimpse down rows of vines and the Satterwhite Lodge is available for events. I can just imagine a wedding reception on the grounds around the lodge. The tasting room is cool (really cool in the 100+ heat of June) with bistro tables and a granite counter. Our hostess was so friendly and pleasant we felt we had dropped in on a friend for a glass of wine. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

A little more Vogue 1952

2010-06-17T02:13:00.005-05:00

I have to start with the Texas contribution to fashion... Neiman-Marcus' ad for the 1952 fall fashion issue of Vogue.

Even if I knew how to Tango, I'm not sure I could walk in the dress pictured above. I certainly couldn't dance in it. This one is White Alencon lace by Charles James with a black faille waistband & flowers. It is described as, 'the newest American evening dress;its line as narrow as it once was full. Alluring, curving body conscious. Climaxing in a trumpet flare or a stream of drapery--the tango dress!

Delicates.. you know for 'underneath it all'.

Notice the pleating in the skirt of this sweet knitted suit. Pleats were big,, BIG BIG in the fashion world in the early 50's.

New Suit-Narrowness: Day and Evening

Traina Norell's suit features a Norfolk jacket, his newest innovation, omnipresent in his collection. Traina-Norell reproduces the Norfolk line faithfully--keeps it single-breasted, with a low placed belt, and pressed-down pleats. The evening suit facing page: Hattie Carnegie's suit-costume--a narrow, straight jewelled white satin cardigan and a narrow supple, jewelled white satin dress. Very possibly, the start of a whole new school of evening elegance.

I am considering the possibilities of this evening suit. I have a romantic adventure a few months off and I will need something elegant for evening. This could be it! I already have a simple sheath dress pattern, a vintage Vogue (of course). I found several great patterns at "What I found" a great blog by my new friend Tina! Check out her shop! So, I have the basic patterns to put this outfit together. Stay Tuned!

I do love the blue wool and even the fur collar; it just doesn't get cold enough in Texas to entertain the thought of such a stylish coat. A nice sturdy rain coat with a good lining is all I need. (and my fashion rain boots). I do wish this photo were a full length, there is some hint that the coat flares at the hips. Probably in order not to crush the fabulous designer gown she is wearing beneath it. (sigh)

Vogue September 1952; PARIS!

2010-06-13T05:11:00.010-05:00

I found this beautiful old Vogue magazine in an antique shop yesterday! I held it to my breast like a lost child, safely found! WoW! check out the suiting! I will post more pics as I can tear myself away from it. I am near drooling, stupefied by the images of a graceful era long gone. When women wore gloves and hats and had their hair ‘done’. There is one thing about this period of fashion history I don’t like and that’s those FOX stoles women wore. You see them in old movies occasionally. Oh my, (shudder) disgusting… who would wrap a dead animal (including the little head) around her shoulders and sashay off to town thinking she was HOT?? ((shudder again)). Below is some interesting excerpts from 'retro-fashion history' I found online. I have supplied the link in order to credit the site with the information.
Fashion Notes of 1952: “Pleated skirts ruled all dress fashions, from simple daytime to formal evening. Not only skirts but whole dresses 'became pleated, inspired by Fath and Dior, and pleating took every form. Apart from new synthetic fabrics, pleats were smart in shantung, surah, and taffeta ground prints, checked taffetas, and silk crepes a la Dior. All these except the crepes were worn over stiff crinolines in the spring, but fall brought in a trend toward a softer, slimmer silhouette.
Suits and suit dresses, especially in silks, took on a new look with pleated and flared skirts, shorter jackets, bracelet-length sleeves, tiny collars, or cardigan necklines
The box jacket suit began as a high fashion but became popular in the fall. Jackets were in bulky coating zibeline, boucle, or loopy tweed, the skirt (and often the suit or blouse) in a different but color-coordinated yarn-dye flannel, soft wool with fur content, gabardine, or worsted jersey. This fashion immediately "caught on" because the jacket could be worn separately over dresses or with separate skirts, and this double usage had great appeal.

Color: Red emerged as the big popular demand color all over the country, in every shade, from hats to shoes. Greens showed signs of an incoming trend in the fall, chiefly in emerald tones. Navy enjoyed its accustomed place of top spring color just preceding Easter and demand continued right through fall and winter.

(http://retro-fashion-history.com/html/1952_retro_fashion_history.html)

Fashion Stars Hats and Bags..

2010-06-12T16:25:00.013-05:00

Last August we (the family) moved my 93 year old grandmother to permanently live with my mom and dad. This meant moving her out of the house her father built in 1917 just before she was born. My Grandmother and Grandfather moved back to the old home place in 1961 after my Great-Grandfather (her Dad) passed away. So here she has lived, gardened, cooked, canned the vegetables from the garden, decorated for Christmas and Easter and every other holiday of the year. We have all eaten many meals at her harvest table in the little dining room of the old farm house. She worshiped every Sunday at the nearby Baptist church. She taught Sunday School for over 40 years. But the day came last August when my mom and aunt had to pack away a lifetime of memories, odds and ends and wrap it up for an estate sale. My grandmother had fallen and broken a hip. She no longer was safe to live alone and needed my mom to care for her. So we all arrived at the old house and packed up things, put things in our cars that had special significance for each of us and generally spent the day reminiscing. Crocheting was a hobby that my grandmother loved, even after arthritis made her fingers sore and hands ache, she would crochet baby blankets for young mothers and hot pads for every bride in the community. Over the years she has crocheted countless miles of yarn. I came across this old crochet book from the early 1940's in her garage. My youngest daughter, Erin crochets as a hobby. We have enjoyed looking through this old crochet book and laughing about how 'antiquated' it all seems to a modern young bride such as Erin. I've posted some pics below of the fashionable patterns from, 'The Complete Book of Crochet' by Elizabeth Mathison copywrite 1944. Hope you enjoy them as much as we have.

Groovy 70's Blouse

2010-06-09T06:22:00.007-05:00

I am still on the search for cuff links, but here is the Groovy Blouse in a blue stripe woven fabric. I bought the pattern in lot of vintage patterns off of Ebay.

Touring Texas Wineries...

2010-06-07T12:49:00.016-05:00

We drove up to Naples Texas on Sunday and visited with Merrill and Anna Grove at their winery, The Red Road Winery. We learned a little about the wine industry & were amazed at how long Texas has actually been growing grapes for wine. We enjoyed the summery white wines. We have started mapping out the local, regional and far-flung wineries of our great Lone Star state and are already planning our next weekend excursion. Visit the Texas Pineywoods Wine Trail website to plan your trip. http://www.texaspineywoodsexperience.org/northeast_texas_winery_trail

I am the daughter of a 35+ year Texas history teacher & have been to every nook and cranny of our great state. I can say without hesitation that the Eastern Pineywoods is the loveliest and can boast the friendliest folks around. Our next winery visit is planned for 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted and in the mean time, if you find a Texas winery you want to boast about be sure to leave a comment!

Beautiful pot plants and watering cans on the loading dock of what is now the Red Road Winery; in 1890 the structure began its history as the first Icehouse in Northeast Texas. A great setting for enjoying a glass of wine.

Outside Bistro seating areas on the loading dock

Amy Butler's Anna Tunic

2010-06-06T08:04:00.008-05:00

Weekend Sewing project was this cute tunic. I bought the pattern in January but didn't really get inspired to start on it till last week. I lined it with a baby blue polyester lining material. I love the silky-like slide of the lining when putting on the tunic. The exterior fabric is a soft blue gaberdine knit I bought at Hancocks. I used pearl-esque shank buttons (4) on the back yoke. The fabric flower turned out 'ok' but it would definitely take a little more practice to get the circle right and fit the gathers better. I used a scrap of blue stripe for the flower that is left from a retro-70's style blouse I made a few weeks ago. More on the blouse later, I'm still looking for cuff links to wear on the French Cuffs. Big white 70's collar and white french cuffs; too groovy! Any suggestions on cuff link sources or how to make them is greatly appreciated! But this post is about the Anna Tunic which I love and enjoyed making. I wore it out last night (our anniversary) with a fabulous re-sale find; great fitting side zip knit pants. (ooh.. fit like a glove and all those yoga workouts are so worth it!) I really scored big on the designer pants yesterday afternoon. $3.99 resale. I will definitely be making the Anna Tunic again. something less dressy in maybe a summer pique?

Holly Graduates From Law School...

2010-05-31T08:22:00.005-05:00

A late post but it's been a busy spring! May 8th Holly is officially a law school graduate. Everyone drove up to Tulsa to celebrate. We met at Kilkenny's Pub on the Friday night before the graduation. Aunt Madeline gave Holly a beautiful Ann Taylor suit for a graduation gift. It fit perfectly and she wore it the next day under her gown. Big maw maw, 93 years old made the trek with Mee Maw and Paw Paw! Uncle Rusty and Aunt Madeline drove from Austin and Granddaddy Murphy and Grandmom came up from Houston. Bud came over from Oklahoma City and had dinner with us Friday at the pub. Aunt Wendy came with Mee Maw and Paw Paw too. Erin took leave from the Airforce so she was able to spend the weekend with us. Dusty came along as well.

Spring Garden Projects

2010-04-23T05:31:00.003-05:00

We started in March after the February snowfall. (Funny, in East Texas) Steve took down the wire fencing I had around last years garden and pulled up the gate posts. The entire fence is gone and it looks so much better. We rented a tiller and while Steve tilled up new garden space I pulled grass. Our community has a compost site and they literally dump a front-end loader filled with the rich black stuff into your pick-up bed. All you need is a water bill to verify where you live. I love it! After tilling up the new garden areas we shoveled compost, an entire pick-up load into the beds. That was one month ago and now my roses are taking off! I planted spirea, gardenia, dwarf pittosporum and a limelight hydrangea. Daylillies, yarrow, clematis vine and shasta daisies are mixed in around the roses and shrubbery. So far the Abraham Darby rose is blooming, Iceberg rose is blooming and the Q.Elizabeth rose has a bud opening. I'm still waiting for the Mardi Gras, Welcome Home, and Tuscan Sun roses to bloom. They have several buds so it won't be long and they are healthy in their compost beds. I also use fish emulsion weekly; a tablespoon in 2 quarts of warm water poured just at the base of the rose. I scratch the mulch cover aside and stir up the dirt just a little so it soaks in completely.

Roses

2010-02-27T04:11:00.003-06:00

I am going to organize my garden and reduce the variety of everything I threw in it last year. It was a good first year and I learned a lot about what will grow in an 8x30 bed. My plan for this year is simple; a few herbs, daisies and roses. I debated about eliminating all edibles but really would miss the herbs. I am still looking for a bay laurel tree. When we sold the old house I had to move away and leave it. So here are pics from last fall when my garden was still green and wild and a pic from last month after we pulled up the old wire fence and the ‘boxes’. I put down huge flat rocks for walking on and have ordered more roses. So far the rose list includes: Abraham Darby (David Austin Rose), Don Juan, Zephirine Drouhin, Peace, Tropicana, Iceberg & Queen Elizabeth. I have four more to set out today; Welcome Home, Tuscan Sun, Cecile Brunner & Mardi Gras. Three climbers I think are enough, (for now).

No more temporary paper shades

2010-02-19T15:33:00.002-06:00

We hung new blinds and I made valances. Finally. We've lived here over a year and I finally threw away the 'temporary shades' and actually put something on the breakfast area windows.

pocket organizer

2010-02-16T15:45:00.003-06:00

I made this organizer from yellow linen and covered the top three pockets with an old embroidered dresser scarf. My grandmother embroidered the scarf and crocheted the trim probably before I was born. I think it adds a nice touch to an otherwise utilitarian item.

I have the laundry room in mind for it.

My Garden with a light snow...

2010-02-12T03:44:00.002-06:00

We haven't had snow in East Texas in a few years. It's been several years since we had enough to cover anything. 3-4 inches of snow fell yesterday. I'm the only Dork in town up at 3:30am taking pictures of the house, shrubbery and garden.

Shoes and Little Girls

2010-01-09T06:13:00.006-06:00

Here is a poem I read to my girls when they were little. Their grandmother had a set of 'World Book Encyclopedia' and their favorite book was the one with children's literature selections. This poem was in it.

Choosing Shoes

by Frida Wolfe

New shoes, new shoes, Red and pink and blue shoes.

Tell me, what would you choose, If they'd let us buy?

Buckle shoes, bow shoes, Pretty pointy-toe shoes,

Strappy, cappy low shoes;

Let's have some to try.

Bright shoes, white shoes, Dandy-dance-by-night shoes,

Perhaps-a-little-tight shoes, Like some? So would I.

BUT

Flat shoes, fat shoes, Stump-along-like-that shoes,

Wipe-them-on-the-mat shoes,

That's the sort they'll buy.

Winter Thoughts...

2010-01-03T05:32:00.007-06:00

Sewing is something I like to do in the winter. I have several projects in mind and a new sewing machine. I also have plans for the garden, but its sleeping for now so I can play inside. I want to make blouses for myself and embroidery a pair of pillow cases for the guest bedroom. I bought a beautiful piece of silk before christmas on the 'odds & ends' table at the fabric store for a pillow. And I've considered trying my hand at a little hat making. Wouldn't it be awesome if women wore hats? sigh. It wouldn't matter if your hair was not coiffed perfectly. I blame the darling pillbox hat on the demise of hats. It was configured so as not to crush the bouffant hair-do's so popular in the 60's.. and eventually hats fell into disfavor; very much like the monarchy of 16th century France. I think of all the fashion fads that have come and gone & come again.. only the darling hat has been denied a fashion resurrection. How cruel! We have seen double zippered and buttoned trousers come and go and come back into style. Western Wear has revived; revamped and today's western fashions look like a Porter Waggoner family reunion. Even the hidious 'bubble' skirt of the 80's returned briefly in 2006-07, but not a newsboy or trilby in sight in the local malls and department stores. It doesn't matter what the models are wearing on the runway in New York or Paris. In small towns you have to make your own fashion. I think I'll shop for millnery supplies today. Beenies, berets, bonnets with widebrims and pillboxes with net, gloves to match and a pocketbook that snaps!

2009-12-29T07:07:00.003-06:00

Christmas Eve at Me Maws is never dull!!

Christmas Eve 2009

2009-12-25T15:43:00.005-06:00

Christmas Eve at MeMaws...

Eagle Scout

2009-12-22T13:40:00.002-06:00

Dusty passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review last night. I'm very proud of him. All his years of hard work and earning/learning merit badges has paid off!

Christmas Card Factory...

2009-12-06T06:26:00.003-06:00

I love to make cards. I think I enjoy cardmaking even more than scrapbooking. Here are a few of the Christmas Cards I've made this year.

2009-12-06T06:05:00.003-06:00

Decorating for Christmas...

I spent the weekend after Thanksgiving putting up the Christmas Trees.

2009-11-01T18:38:00.006-06:00

our murder mystery party was a great success! I think everyone had a wonderful time and John Silver was the murderer!! (Boo.. hiss...)LOL!!

Pumpkin Nurse

2009-10-25T07:50:00.003-05:00

This is my pumpkin entry for the hospital's pumpkin decorating contest. The rule is no carving.

Holly Rockstar!

2009-10-25T04:51:00.002-05:00

I have cool kids...

Holly is in her last year of law school at Tulsa University in Tulsa Ok. She loves oil and gas law and mocha lattes.. and Rock Band!

Senior Airman Daughter

2009-10-21T04:55:00.002-05:00

I don't care how tough she is or how far she runs or how many hurdles she jumps; I'm a proud mom and she'll always be my little girl. The little girl whose sage advice regarding watermelons I pass on to cyberspace. When she was four I asked her why she nibbled all the way to the green rind on her watermelon slice? Her reply: "You have to eat all the pink stuff, because it makes the cows sick." Of course.

Halloween Dinner Party Preparations

2009-10-10T06:15:00.013-05:00

I have been busy these past few weeks. The fall garden I planted in August is coming along and the last of the summer flowers and vegetables have been pulled up and composted. I have peas, lettuces and collards in the fall garden. The swiss chard and carrots will be making a decent presentation in a few weeks. They seem to be moving a little slower than the peas and lettuce. The Activity in the house is all about Halloween! I am planning a Murder Mystery Dinner Party for October 31st. Ten guests and a mystery to solve over dinner and dessert. We have done this once before and it was a great hit. This year's theme for my Halloween decor will be spiders and creepy crawlies. I have glittered a bag of plastic bones with Martha Stewart Glitter. (this is a fabulous glitter, I was skeptical at first but it makes a beautiful difference vs the cheaper craft store glitter; try it) I love the Green and there is even a Black! I have gone to work transforming our house into a Gothic witches' cottage for a Halloween feast. In the art niche I placed a crystal serving dish filled with decorative moss and glittered bones, spider web and spiders crawling above it. I have a bunch of purple roses spray painted with black paint beneath the centerpiece. on the spanish chest that sits in the entrance foyer I put a small lamp and a large pumpkin with mice crawling in and out of holes. This is a 'funkin punkin' that I drilled holes in with a small hole saw on my husband's drill. It looks great! The window over the front door is my ode to Poe! With black ravens (paper crow silhouettes) stacked books and a forgotten wine glass. I debated about ordering a wig stand (head) to put up there as the bust of Pallas but decided against it. I've spent enough already! In the dining room I have a black pumpkin (again a funkin punkin spray painted black and covered in the beautiful black glitter) on a crystal cake stand with Dusty Miller sprigs as garnish. I want the guests to be able to see over any table decor so that conversation is not limited to each side of the table. I hate to go to parties and the arrangments and table decor ostracizes you from the party guests on the other side of the table! I found the dessert plates at a Good Will store here in town for .50 cents ea. wow! they are all white with a black design and the black silk roses I bought a craft store and used wire cutters to seperate them. Since we're going to serve dinner buffet style I won't actually use place cards or go to the formality of 'assigning' guests' seats. But I like the little black rose at each seat. I have yards of Tulle to wrap the chairs in but I'm debating about that too. I may do something different with the chairs. On the buffet I am still in the design stage. I know spiders will be featured as well as cob webbing and I've made a few large 'spider egg sacs' to suspend from the ceiling over the sideboard. More pictures of that later. Presiding over everything is the Ghoul of Gruel! I put red bulbs in the chandelier and frankly, it all looks wonderfully macabre. I can't wait for the party to start!

Progress Grocery, Tyler Texas

2009-09-20T04:18:00.003-05:00

I would love to know the history behind this old building. Obviously it was originally a grocery store, built in 1909 on a lot in Tyler Texas. A brick layer went to great pains on a hot day in 1909 to lay the brick in the staggered effect we see today around the top. He stepped the brick out in a sort of 'Art Deco' style that was just emerging at the turn of the century, probably still unamed or recognized. Notice how the brick is staggered at certain points coming down the sides of the building. I think there could be some argument for the Beaux Art style of design in this little grocery store. The brick layer also added the little radius window arch in the center. Today it stands on that lot, empty and boarded up. Nearby is an auto parts store, a city park and a neighborhood of older homes which are probably not from the same era of the grocery. I stumble on these old buildings, old houses, old barns that appear abandoned. I think about the people that either lived in them or shopped in them or worked in them. This building doesn't have any vines invading the brick or prying through the cracks and windows, only tall grass. I think it would be the coolest thing to step inside, close your eyes and listen to the sounds: ... of ladies discussing fabric and notions, the price of sugar. Gentlemen over near the leather and harness section are talking politics and the latest horse someone bought. Perhaps a pickle barrel supports a checker board? The buildings' past is silent and forgotten, it's future uncertain and even more a mystery. There is new lumber supporting part of the porch overhang, and the plywood covering the windows is painted. Does someone have a plan?

Disney for Teens

2009-09-08T06:51:00.015-05:00

We had a great time on our vacation to Disney World. I was concerned that our teenage son would be unimpressed and 'too old' for Disney Magic. Well, not so. He was bowled over by the fireworks (though he did have to suffer through the mob/stroller wielding moms during the preceding parade). He was speechless for about 5 seconds after the last spark died. If you have a teenager, all the fireworks and laser shows are very impressive! The best rides for thrills and coaster-lovin-teens are at Hollywood Studio's. (We rode the Rockin' Roller Coaster three times) The Spirit of Aloha is a luau with dancing, singing, some campy skits. The food at the luau is good and plenty for a teenage boy. It isn't fabulous food and will never rate on a foodie's scale but it is very good and as I said; plenty! We enjoyed Animal Kingdom though we didn't get to see the Lion King show while we were there. The expedition everest roller coaster is a good high speed down-hill ride but no corkscrews or upside down turns. We enjoyed the Safari. I think we probably saw more rare and endangered animals in that 15 minute bus ride than we would have in a week in Africa. We saw white rhinos and baby giraffes, and drove right past a sleeping lion and his lioness. It was an opensided bus so there were no windows to obscure your view.

In Epcot we had lunch at the Chef de France one day and Dusty had escargot for the first time. He loved it! We had a nice conversation with our french waiter. He was a young man from Paris, France who gave us tips on places to go if we ever travel to Paris.

Laundry

2009-08-31T13:22:00.003-05:00

I love how scratchy and stiff my kitchen towels are after hanging on the line. Sheets smell like sunshine! I love a clothesline. I especially love my clothesline now that diapers no longer are hanging on it. It has been many years but I will never forget the endless loads of diapers and burp cloths that I have washed. oh my. Now I hang out my laundry because it's Green, and Clean! I buy old linen at junk shops and antique shows and after washing it with gentle detergent and oxy clean I always line dry the pieces. Our bath towels absorb better and I think are more invigorating when they are line dried and stiff from the hot August sun.

Our Sweet Betty...

2009-08-30T10:38:00.004-05:00

This is Betty. (the little furry one) My brother & his friend Todd rescued her about two years ago and have cared for and loved her as a child. We all love Betty. She is adorable, affectionate and so whimsical. She is a delight to everyone who knows her. Friday evening after work my brother, sister and friends Todd and Cory were preparing to drive 5 hours from Austin to Carthage to visit our parents. As the last thing to do before getting in the car they had their three dogs 'potty' in the front yard of my sisters' house. In a twinkling of a second a peaceful family trip became a nightmare; two huge PIT BULLS ran from across the street and snatched our sweet Betty in one of their jaws. He began shaking her like a rag and the other fighting to get a hold of her. My sister said that it was the most surreal nightmare she had imagined. 'Just Horrible! I thought my heart would stop!' Cory, my sister's friend jumped on the dog with Betty and immediately began to pry the giant monsters' jaws off Betty's mangled body. It took Cory and Todd, two grown men to pry the jaws off of her. While my brother was struggling to protect the other two dogs & pull the other pit bull off of the guys trying to rescue Betty. My sister meanwhile, is dialing 911 on her cell. long story short: Betty has been in a critical care unit for dogs since the tragic attack. Cory and Todd suffered bite wounds to their hands and scratches to their faces and legs. The tragedy is that people are allowed to own these animals who repeatedly attack, kill and maim pets, children and adults. I am planning to research political action groups in Texas. I hope to find a group to join and throw my efforts and energies into helping regulate the ownership and breeding of these animals. My sister said she had already called animal control several times about these same two dogs. They have chased children getting off the school bus and harassed her and others as they walk their pets in the neighborhood. Please join me in praying for Betty. I also hope others will join me in fighting to limit and strictly regulate the ownership of breeds of dogs genetically designed to kill innocent people and animals. Betty's only crime?? she gives pleasure to all who know her.

Monday at 1pm: Betty is home though very weak and in obvious pain. My brother is giving her pain medication and she returns to the animal hospital for daily check ups. Hopefully the worst is over and she will continue to heal.

Hello ????

2009-08-29T07:53:00.002-05:00

Before I do anything else today I must break my silence. For weeks I have kept mum about certain tabloid headlines and the hysteria surrounding the death of Michael Jackson. I do not appolize for what I'm about to post. People, where is your moral compass? Aren't some of you parents? This individual was a sick, mentally ill pervert and child molester. Our society is so deranged that we glorify such an individual. We should mourn the loss of a reasonable and rational society. The loss of a civilization that once spurned and denounced such debauchery. He might have lived in ancient Rome; what is that smell on the zephyr breeze??
I think embers... God help us all.

Eagle Project

2009-08-23T08:13:00.005-05:00

We spent yesterday working on Dusty's eagle project for the Humane Society and animal shelter. Wow, a lot of hard work putting up shelving, organizing, lifting, moving and cleaning. School starts Monday so he just met his goal to complete the project before the summer ended. He still will have a council board of review and have to wait for recommendation to Eagle rank by the national level in Fort Worth. He has been in scouting since 4th grade. I am one proud mom.

A Vintage Suitcase re-styled

2009-08-21T19:03:00.012-05:00

I found this great little suitcase at Goodwill for $4! I covered it in a pink & brown 'parisian' themed paper. I plan to use it in my guest room to store some of my scrapbooking and sewing books/magazines. Cool!

A Babushka Pin Cushion

2009-08-16T12:51:00.005-05:00

I was blog surfing the other day, (via SITS, of course!) And came across the great little shop: I Wanted to Wonder I decided to order the little babushka doll pincushion. She arrived Saturday in the mail and is adorable! Doesn't she look great sitting on my kitchen counter? I don't think she will ever hold a pin or needle but I smile everytime I look at her. I have an old babushka doll, packed up somewhere that was a gift to me when I was very small. A relative had traveled to Russia and brought my sister and I these little nesting dolls. I have always liked the 'motheriness' of them. I happen to believe being a mom is my best talent! Happy Sunday everyone!

Fall Gardening

2009-08-12T07:02:00.004-05:00

We have such a long growing season here I have decided to plant for a fall garden. Last night after work I pulled up alot of the plants that have withered from our July and August humidity/heat. The cantaloupes, petunias, dead cilantro (saving seed for next spring) and my squaw corn stalks. It's on the compost pile waiting to be chopped up. I planted sugar snap peas, purple hull peas and arugula. I already have collards. I am heading off to the feed store to see if there are any seeds left from spring that would do well in a fall garden. I am hoping to find carrot, leaf lettuce and parsnip. My okra is still producing so I left them along with my basil, dill and parsley. This year at Thanksgiving I won't have to buy sage for my dressing. Last year I almost called the lady who bought our old house to ask if I could come over and collect sage from my old herb garden. I decided against it; how weird would that be? My winter garden project is going to be installing a black wrought iron fence around the garden. I also need to re-think the layout. Things sort of went wild this year. I have to get it more organized and make a better path through it so I'm not stepping over and on the low vining plants. I would like something neat and orderly but I know eventually things will grow past the boundaries and it will be one of those wild 'cottage' gardens. My best intentions to keep things in rows and boxes never really pans out. oh well. Thats kind of like life wouldn't you say?

Caddo Lake

2009-08-08T11:53:00.007-05:00

This lake is a natural lake and wetland area between the Texas and Louisiana border. It includes Harrison and Marrion Counties on the Texas side and Caddo Parish in Louisiana. Caddo Lake is so named after the Southeastern Native Americans known as Caddo's or Caddoans. They built great burial mounds around the East Texas area, the best known are at Alto, Texas near Nacogdoches. Caddo Lake is a protected wetland and the largest cypress forest in the world. To spend time at Caddo is to feel as though you've left the modern world behind.

I recommend you rent a canoe and paddle among the giant cypress trees, listening to the bull frogs sing.

Close your eyes.

A Weeping Angel...

2009-08-07T17:55:00.011-05:00

Sunday drives are alive and doing well in East Texas. We often explore the countryside on a weekend afternoon with no itinerary and only a clue or two that urges us down the road. Some time ago, I believe it was in spring or maybe fall; we wandered over to Harrison County. I remembered a chemistry professor from my college days who would bore us with stories of his hometown cemetery. Years later I still recalled his description of a weeping angel memorial and other graveyard statuary that made this particular small community's cemetery stand out. So with no map and only a vague idea of where to search we headed out to 'see what we could see' . After driving up and down a few Farm to Market roads and narrowing our search around the specific community we topped a hill and, 'Voila'! There was a Gothic cemetery complete with chapel and ancient oak trees. No one was around and we quietly opened the gate. The Weeping Angel was there, just as she had been described, and so many others too many to list. It was a little place, lost in the world and found only by those really searching for a little solitude and a quiet place to worship God. The souls who slumber there surely must know they rest in a beautiful place, awaiting Gabriel's horn.

Birthday!

2009-08-06T06:16:00.017-05:00

I know the king of the castle here will not let my birthday go without something special.However, I have bought myself something very indulgent. A new dining room light fixture. I have wanted to replace the small, non-descript fixture that was installed by the builder from the moment we decided to buy this house. Last weekend I 'picked up an extra shift' which is nurse-talk for working extra. But we don't talk about that here. Anyway, I used the extra money for a floral arrangement, fabric for a table scarf and the beautiful new fixture. I found the light at http://www.lightingdirect.com/ and I highly recommend them. Free Shipping and the price was very reasonable compared to the lighting showrooms here in our area. I placed an online order Saturday evening and it was delivered to the office Wednesday at 12:45pm. You just can't beat that! (The fixtures I priced locally were anywhere from 30-60% higher) Mr Bachelor Buttons helped his step-dad hang it last night while I made pizza for dinner. The floral arrangement is my first attempt at floral design and advice from any kind reader is appreciated. I'm not sure I like the wisteria draping, but it seemed to need something. I'm not sure what. The green velvet I bought off a scrap table at Hancocks Fabric along with the cording. I plan to sew the cording around the edge and keep it bunched around the base of the urn. (again, suggestions are welcome) My real dilemma is whether or not the arrangement is too tall for the new fixture. I could place the urn on the sideboard and put something smaller or more horizontal on the table. I'll keep moving it around until I am satisfied. Happy birthday to me.

Morning Glories

2009-07-31T06:56:00.006-05:00

Here are photos I took this morning before work. The bird house is pretty with the morning glories growing up around it. I wonder if I have gourds growing on the other side of the fence? I probably should walk around there and look. The morning glories have tolerated the heat and humidity very well. I have a wire fence around my garden and the morning glory are planted to grow on it. They have completely covered it. The gourd vines have not 'weathered' so well. Of course the Zinnia are growing in the heat and humidity of our East Texas summer. They really are beautiful and just keep blooming like crazy. I have cut several bouquets for the house. My great-grandmother Mamma Jewel, always planted them in her flowerbeds along the front of her house.

Sister Weekend

2009-07-28T06:38:00.002-05:00

I don't remember spending a weekend with my sister since we were teenagers and shared a bedroom. In those days we most certainly did not enjoy one anothers' company nearly as much as we did this past Saturday. I left Longview at 5 o'clock and made it to her house in Hutto (near Austin) around 9:30pm. We had a great time shopping for furniture and knick knacks for her soon-to-be guest bedroom. She decided on a color scheme, black with tan/gold accents. We went to used furniture stores, salvation army and one french antique store. I love to go in antique stores because unlike museums, you can touch and get up close to the object d'art. And let me tell you, this shop was filled with beautiful furnishings and accent pieces as well as a polite owner. I bought a large framed print for my bedroom that necessitated a trip back to her house to drop it off. We ate a Tex-Mex lunch around 2pm and were back on the hunt. She found the perfect bookcase at Hobby Lobby (of all places the last place we went!) Sunday I drove home and thoroughly enjoyed be alone driving for several hours. I passed small towns with church lots full of cars and pickups. I drove along beside millet fields, and soybean fields and hay fields. One particular field was being mowed and the hay baled by men on bright green John Deere tractors. There was no shoulder on the highway at that point or I would have pulled over to take a picture. I have close up memories of hay fields, but that's for another post. I hope we have started a summer tradition, spending a weekend together once a year.

Okra and Literature

2009-07-19T21:16:00.006-05:00

We are still cutting okra, everything else is tired and sapped by the heat. Okra is indigenous to the African continent and was brought over to America by traders and slave ships. Boiled its' yukky and gooey but tossed in a little cornmeal and fried makes it delicious. You can buy breaded okra in the freezer section of grocery stores but that's too much coating, it obliterates the flavor of the pod. My watermelon and cantaloupe are progressing very well. We had over 2 inches of rain last week and I went out just as the rain was beginning to put out a little fish emulsion fertilizer around the vines. It stinks to high heaven but really is fantastic stuff. (OH it really stinks and I don't recommend it for the faint of heart or weak stomached). I finished my sewing projects today, I can't say what it is or post a picture yet. It is part of the surprise for my sister. I'm going to Austin to visit her and be weird next weekend. I'm not sure, but she may follow this blog and I don't want to spoil her surprise. Next week. I'll post pics of our sister weekend. I'm reading A Moveable Feast by Hemingway. I can smell the crepes and see the steam rise from the street carts as the lids are opened for customers. Cafe au lait is my favorite way to have coffee. I love the typical swirl melting into the brown liquid and the mildly bitter flavor, warm as silk. I like the enormous ceramic bowls filled with comfort.

Marigold is 24

2009-07-13T18:20:00.007-05:00

Sunday July 12 We drove to Dallas to take Marigold out for lunch and celebrate her 24 birthday. She wanted to visit the Dallas Holocaust Museum and the Sixth Floor Museum. Both were fascinating and a sad part of history. I didn't realize the Kennedy's had lost a child in August, just a few months prior to the presidents' assassination. What a terrible, personally tragic year for Jackie. I'm sure it was no solace that the entire world grieved with her.
The Holocaust Museum in Dallas presents a very personal, touching glimpse into the horror perpetuated by the Nazi regime. The names of individuals, their stories and their families are presented with photos, oral histories and momentos such as jeweler's tools. The re-telling of the events around the 20th train from Belgium was especially astounding.
Marigold has always been fascinated with history and she enjoyed both museums; understanding that while humans can be monstrous in our actions we can also do heroic things for total strangers and rise above tragedy. The most important thing for all three of us to remember from our day of reflection is to never forget those events or allow succeeding generations to brush the memories aside.

From This..To This.. Delicious!

2009-07-08T20:09:00.008-05:00

Green Tomato Relish! Wonderful with fish dishes, on a relish tray, with sandwiches or just as snack similar to a pickle. I grew Celebrity and Tom Thumb tomatoes this year and put up a dozen half pint jars of green relish. There is a great sense of satisfaction when you planted the seedling, watered it and pulled weeds to help it grow and finally! pulled a ripe red tomato to slice and eat, or in this case--a GREEN tomato for a jar of relish. Hmmm.. as I sit and write this, I'm counting the 'pops' as the lids seal the goodness inside.

A Modern Woman

2009-07-06T19:20:00.003-05:00

My grandmother was widowed at a young age. My dad was born in 1937 and when he was three his father died of diabetes. Pre-world War II my grandmother worked in Waco, Tx at a munitions factory. I'm not sure what my grandmother and the other women she worked with were making. I've heard her describe it as 'mans work' where you got hot and dirty and chipped fingernails. I was little and didn't pay much attention, as a child. Of course now I wish I could recall every word about every story she told me. She described the coveralls she wore as "denim, hard and stiff, so the hot metal wouldn't burn our skin or our clothes". She rode the bus from Hubbard, Tx every Sunday evening to Waco where she rented a room. Her home Monday-Friday was a boarding house that let rooms to young ladies. My grandmother worked long hours in the factory and sent almost all her money back to her parents in Hubbard. They were taking care of her little boy, Danny. She rode the bus home every Friday night when she got off work and spent the weekends in Hubbard with her parents and her son. She would catch the bus, or a ride with friends who had cars for the return trip back to Waco on Sunday evenings. Later, after the war she learned to repair watches. Her older brother, Burrit helped her get a job in Houston at Corrigans Jewelry store. She bought a little house on Dumble Ave. where she and my dad lived. This was the house where my sister and I would go and visit her when we were little. She repaired watches and re-strung ladies pearls and waited on customers in the jewelry store for many years. She paid for her house and a car and helped my dad pay for his education at Baylor University. I admire her accomplishments, a life well-lived with few regrets; she wasn't a quitter when the going got tough. The only thing to ever get the best of her was Alzheimer's.

July 4th

2009-07-04T22:07:00.005-05:00

We spent the day at my mothers' with Brisket, Chicken, Ribs and all the sides. I picked zucchini from my parent's garden and a few purple hull peas. The peas are dried pods for seed. I am planning a fall garden with peas, tomatoes, collards. Lettuces, carrots and radishes should also do well once the weather cools. It's great to be American. No matter where in the world we travel, it's wonderful to return to the USA. Thanks to all the veterans past, present and future who preserve our freedom. No matter how much we all disagree, we can all agree that to disagree is the highest privilege.

Dog Day at the Ballpark

2009-07-01T18:42:00.002-05:00

It was so hot!! But we all had a great time, even Bixby. He was so well-behaved and trotted along beside me on the track for the dog parade before the game. A maltese won, of course (all small lap dogs are adorable) who could resist the little ball of fluff?? There were dogs of all sizes and breeds, some were huge and I felt sorry for them. They seemed to be the most affected by the heat. We brought Bixby water and a small plastic bowl along with doggie treats (no cotton candy or peanuts for him). we left in the 7th inning to get a head start on the trip home and avoid the traffic jam so typical after a Rangers game. Unfortunately our Rangers lost to the Padres. I think next year we will skip Dog Day. It was a fun experience but really, Bixby had no idea what was going on and I think would have been just as happy chasing butterflies in his own backyard. So our next trip to the Ballpark will be sans pooch.

Daisy

2009-06-28T08:14:00.004-05:00

Daisy has married
We found out over dinner that she and her fiance decided to skip the formal wedding brouhaha and were married in a civil ceremony. I'm glad they didn't wait until AFTER thousands of dollars had been spent to decide that was what they wanted. They are both in the military and to them it seemed the sensible way to make things official.
This a picture of them taken last year during the holidays. The one thing about an elopement is there are no pictures.

June Dragonflies

2009-06-23T20:33:00.008-05:00

Mr Darby is blooming again in fantastic profusion.

Unbelievably loaded with blush/apricot blooms. I love this rose. I plan to plant more English roses in the fall. I am sad to say the Zucchini and my squash have been invaded by the squash borer worm. My tomatoes are bearing very well. I cheated last week and picked three or four green tomatoes.. for Fried Green Tomatoes. Here is how: Dust with cornmeal and fry in a pan with hot shallow vegetable oil till crispy and toasted. Slice them at 1/2 inch or just under. They are best fried crisp with a crunch when you bite into them. Delicious! A little ranch dressing for dipping makes them a great appetizer. My green beans are bearing regularly, we've had several meals with fresh green beans. Next year I plan to plant more Roma Bush Beans. The cantaloupe are growing like crazy. I think I should pull up the infested Squash to protect the cantaloupe from any insects. My Zinnia are blooming, oranges, pink, magenta and orange. I still haven't seen any Envy Zinnia.. the lime green one. Next year I plan to expand the herb bed. The Thai basil and globe basil are doing well. The Dill doesn't seem to be happy. It's blooming but looks skimpy, leggy sort of too. Oregano is established and I think will spread well. I never did find any catnip this spring, which is too bad because it does so well in our hot humid summers and has pretty lavendar blooms. Cucumbers are growing and I keep cutting cukes every evening. Tomorrow I'll take a basket of cukes to work and try to give them away.

Memorial Day in the garden

2009-05-25T07:14:00.002-05:00

Friday after work Steve and Dusty put our flag bracket on the house. I bought a new flag a few days earlier and it is beautiful waving from the pole. I would like for our HOA to have the flags along the entrance to the subdivision once all the houses are completed. I think the Rotary Club puts out the flags for a fee on patriotic holidays. My family has a long history of military service. I am proud to say my youngest daughter, Daisy is serving in the United States Airforce. Memorial Day is for remembering the brave men and women who have died defending our nation. May God bless them and their families. ~~Salute! ~~

Cowhorn Peppers & Ornamental Gourds

2009-05-23T06:50:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how the gourd vine is growing. It is already climbing up the trellis (almost to the top). No birds have moved into the birdhouse above the trellis. Thats a little disappointing. I wonder if the gourd vine is growing so fast the little birds are in fear of it. I planted a new pepper plant Wednesday evening. I had never heard of 'Cowhorn', a variety of large green peppers with a mild flavor. Mr Darby has stopped blooming and now the dead headed roses look shabby. I'm leaving them on because rosehips are developing and I think the birds will enjoy them. In the fall I will prepare more rose beds and devote a larger part of my garden to roses. Floribunda's and more English roses for the cutting and at least one climber. I would like to try the old favorites, Ballerina or New Dawn. I am watching roma bush beans grow and hope to have enough to pick for dinner one night next week. There are three little, yellow squashes developing that I can hardly wait to pick and my tomatoes are loaded! Nothing ready to pick yet, but certainly growing and looking beautiful.

Backyard Gardening

2009-05-12T05:40:00.005-05:00

The english rose, Abraham Darby has three blooms fully open and over a dozen buds. The scent of this rose is wonderful! Only roses and wine have the broad, beautiful aromas that are so difficult to describe and so wonderful to enjoy. I love the apricot hue of the blooms and the spicy almost a nutmeg-like edge to the rose floral scent. On another note, the muskmelon will have to be replanted. They have been sitting in the dirt for 3 weeks now with no sign of growth. Maybe the last cold snap pinched them. Tomorrow I will plant new seed. The zucchini I replanted last week has sprouted, also the okra is up. I'm going to spend tomorrow in the garden. I want to replant the muskmelon and put together a scarecrow for the birds. I might plant the squaw corn I bought in the winter. It would make fabulous fall decorations for the table at Halloween and Thanksgiving and the stuff is so expensive to buy!

Squash Blossoms

2009-05-08T08:19:00.002-05:00

I have squash blossoms and tiny green tomatoes as well as new potatoes. We have already enjoyed several salads and two meals with new potatoes dug from my garden. Mr Darby is loaded with buds and I'm hoping to have full blooms in a few days. The gourd vine is almost to the bottom of the trellis.

Lakehouse search continues

2009-04-26T08:23:00.002-05:00

We spent Saturday driving around East Texas visiting a few of the area lakes. Had a great quiche in Mineola. Lake Holbrook had a few prospective lots and one little house that we like. The house is an A-frame with dark green shingled roof and white trim. It's very cute. I'm sure small inside. We would like to find a lot to build our own weekend cottage on. Lake O' the Pines has a lot that goes directly to the water, it's hilly and would probably require some retaining walls. I liked that lot the best so far as it private and there are no restrictions on building. We want to build a 600-800 sq foot w/e cottage. I want lots of trees and a woodland setting. I've always wanted to grow trilliums and Jack-in-the-Pulpits; I think a lake house in the piney woods of East Texas would be a perfect place.

Flowers and Antiques DO mix!

2009-04-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

I found daisies with black centers yesterday at an antique store. The shop 0wner had taken advantage of her courtyard area and had tons of annuals and perennials for sale. There were hanging baskets of mixed annuals and enormous boston ferns, perfect for a large veranda or terrace. I bought 1/2 a dozen of 4" pots of the daisy and to mix with them in my front door flower bed I bought a few of the blackie potato vine. The white daisy petals contrast with the black center 'eye' and the black vine for ground cover. I have a few small shrubs in the bed for greenery; dwarf pittosporum and two small dwarf cedars. I have had my eye out for just the right little piece of garden statuary for the front walk. There is a small bed between the front door and the corner of the garage. There is a small cedar planted there now but I envision some whimsical piece in the spot. I would like something with either children or fairies, nothing very large.