How Long since Christmas?

This long. Walt hasn't shaved since arriving in Dallas for Christmas. Look quick because he is about through with this.

Check this off my Bucket List

The summer after my freshman year in college I spent working at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. What a summer of adventure! About the only thing I missed was the changing of the aspen leaves. So, I vowed I'd see it someday. I married on Oct. 23 several years later, and Colorado became the intended honeymoon destination. Unfortunately, a snow storm took down the leaves the week before we arrive. So, seeing the aspen leaves got put back on the list. Finally, I got there at the right time. What splender.

First Waffle

I'm quite proud of my healthy but tasty waffles that my diabetic husband can safely eat. I make them at least twice a week when we visit my mother for breakfast. She is the one with the waffle iron.

I've been looking for a baker for myself, but the only one I could get interested in is the Iron Clad one sold by William-Sonoma. Too expensive! A Want, not a Need! Walk away.

Two angels, Mom and Sister Sue, surprised me with one for my birthday. Said I was worth it.

First one.

Bruce Willis Look-alike

According to Durk, this is his Bruce Willis look. It's all in the hat. Take off the hat, and you still have the look. His hair is about 1/2 inch all over. Either way, he is still my tall, handsome son. After this picture was taken, these two and we two went out for a lovely dinner. Nice evening, Guys.

Special Bag

We went out to dinner last night with good friends Mary and David. Mary brought us a present. It's the bag pictured in the photo... hand-made by Mary from her copy of Spaces in Saturday's San Antonio Express News, which is also shown in the photo. What's so great about this. The article, thus the bag, is all about us. Our house is featured. Read it for yourself by clicking on the link.

Spaces, September 6, 2008

A Teachable Moment

Every teacher longs for that teachable moment...the small space of opening where you have your students in the palm of your hands and can truly affect their learning. I think I witnessed one of those happenings last night at Laurie Auditorium when I went to hear Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. Here is a man, in my estimation, that could be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The above picture is of some 6th grade students and their teacher from Austin, TX, who drove down to experience hearing and meeting a real, best-selling author. Their class is reading the book together, and this field trip was a opportunity. I met them as they ask to cut in line in order to get the kids home and in bed for today's school day. What fun to watch them experience the process of standing in line at a book signing. Books take on a new meaning when a reader has a book that is connected to the author with a personal signature. The more connected a student is to books, the better the reader becomes. I think I witnessed the beginnings of a love affair with books for some of these students. As a former reading teacher, that's BIG!

Back-to-School

I'm a retired school teacher, and I giggled last week when I drove through the packed teachers'parking lot of Reagan High School on the way to the Reagan Library, which also serves as a public library. You could say I was joyful not be "getting ready for a new year." I love my freedom. So, why am I trying to sign up for a course at SAC?

I want to learn Photoshop instead of just tinkering with it. One class I'm thinking about has a text, and mentioned a web site . I went there to see what it is about. Boy, was I amazed. Every program I'm working with seems to be listed in their product line. There are very detailed videoes that walk you through the steps. You can go back and replay as much as you need. Each video is short and very well explained. I've only watched the "free" stuff because I'm really cheap. Check it out for yourself.

Singing in the Rain

Hurricane Dolly brought us some good rain. So far we have collected a little over 2 1/2 inches. Ethan and I took advantage of the rain to use umbrellas on a walk around the neighborhood. Hunter decided to stay in and work a puzzle. Both boys are spending a week here in SA.

Chocolate Pie

This past week celebrated the birthdays of my youngest, Stehle, and her son Blake. Stehle always plans a vacation week with her Mom and Dad in San Antonio. We took this opportunity to celebrate Blake's also. His official B-Day is in May, but this is the first we've seen him since. His birthday request was a chocolate pie. I baked it while the rest of them went to the movies.

Delightful Surprise

Today I opened the door to this lovely gathering of flowers. Not everyday that the doorbell signals such joy. John and Marie Grey of Connecticut sent it as a thank you. This couple bought Walt's Buffalo Soldier painting a while back. They were back in town recently and decided to look him up. By happenstance, Walt was on duty when they came by the River Arts Gallery. Walt invited them to have dinner with us. We took the opportunity to show them a few of our favorite SA places before introducing them to La Fonda on Main. It was indeed our pleasure to get to spend time with these visitors, and these flowers are the whipped creme on that dessert. Thank you, Guys.

Evan

There is a young man in my life that makes me very proud. He is such a special boy...sweet, loving, considerate, charming, smart, athletic, adventuresome and loved by all kinds of women. I've prepared a bit of a look at him through the eyes of the women, children and pets that love him. I'm the lucky woman he calls "Aunt."

Breakthrough

I'm a shopper. Not that I buy so much, just that I shop for the bargains and best buys. Knowing that about me, Walt got prepared for a long ordeal after we decided it was time to replace our 23-year-old mattress.

We had read in the paper about a bedding company that had donated a really first class bed set to a seriously wounded San Antonio veteran. That was our first stop...and our last. It took no time for us to agree on the one we wanted and then to decide we'd spend the money. It helped that the one we wanted sells at the same price everywhere.

One stop shopping! BREAKTHROUGH for me.

Summer Quilt Camp

My quilt group, the Steet Magnolias, meets monthly, but we have a camp in the summer. That just means a daytime / all-day meeting. Today's meeting was at Linda's house. Her house lives on five acres among her various gardens. We first greet the pets and then check out the gardens. Finally, down to a little business before lunch. Lunch being the highlight of the day. Delicious food and, ..."talkie, talkie, happy talk"!

Guess Who Came for Pie

Clevel Sluder called this morning to say she was in town. My first response was, "Can you come for lunch?" Clevel always told me not to invite her unless I really wanted her because she'd alway come. Well, I'm always ready for Clevel to come. She is one of my dearest and oldest friends from Corpus Christi -- oldest figuratively and literally. She turns 90 this December. She could pass for 60 any day. What a joy to have spent the afternoon with this lovely lady.

Tomatoes

Speaking of beautiful food, here is last night's harvest. The first tomato came off our bushes the day before I returned from New Zealand. At first, they were a bit slow, but very quickly we had all we could eat with some to give away. The last several weeks, we picked one to two colanders a night. We skipped one night, and this was last night's pickings. We are going to have to do some more canning.

Beautiful Food

On of the best things about traveling in New Zealand is enjoying the food. Presentation is stunning. Vegetables reign supreme. New Zealanders are especially serious about their coffee.

Sisters

What a pleasure to have my two daughters join me on a girl trip to New Zealand! We had a chance to interact as adults and to celebrate family. My sister lives there and so do all her children. We had a wonderful time. I invite you to share in our adventures.

Hello from New Zealand

It seems I waited and waited for April 16 to arrive so I could begin my visit to my sister's. Now April is ending and the days between the start and today have flown by in an instant. Must be that I am having fun. Indeed, I am.

Dijea and Stehle came with me. What a joy to have my girls with me and the three of us seek adventure together. The first thing they were introduced to was the beach below my sister's house. The weather dripped and blew, but it didn't stop us from searching for sea glass. Those two girls had so much fun finding sea glass. Every opportunty they had was spent on the beach searching. In the end, they got picky and only took back their favorite pieces.

AWAY

Today is the eve of my departure for New Zealand, and what I hope will be a month long adventure.  My two daughters are crossing with me, but they can only manage a 10 day stay.  Hopefully, I will be able to get to a computer and blog some of the happenings.  Check in to see how things are going.

Visitors

What a nice day. My cousins Leland and Charlsey and their spouses made a stop in San Antonio today. Everyone met at our house for lunch, then we made our way to Mom's later in the day. It was marvelous to get to have this mini-family reunion. Thanks ,Guys, for all the joy you left with us today.

Spring News

We are "in the bloom" these days. So nice to see the flowers. We are particularly proud of our geraniums that we managed to keep over the winter and the azaleas that are blooming for the first time in several years. We can boast of tomatoes on our plants already, and the peppers have blooms on them. We've planted 38 pepper of varying types...I know, it's a bit overdone.

Eighty-seven...still ticking

Mom celebrated her 87th birthday on April 7. My friend Margie joined us for lunch at Acadiana's, Mom's favorite restaurant. The waiters and waitresses did a rousing "Happy Birthday" song, then an old gentleman playing the saxophone did the Happy Birthday song instrumentally for her. She also got a complementary cake and ice cream serving. Here you see her just after she opened her presents. She also got lots of calls. She's a pretty lucky lady.

Spring Break Adventure

Timely Arrival

It is our habit to have morning coffee on the deck. We found this beauty waiting for us at the end of our deck on the first day of spring.

IT'S OFFICIAL

It's official. I am old. I passed the excitement of getting older at 21. The worst aging experience came at turning 30. I spent the whole day in bed. The 40 and 50 marks happened without fanfare and were hardly noticed. Not so for 60. I thought I'd at least get a party since no one had thought of it before. Nope. No celebration...just covered in oldness. Now, this officially old has nothing to do with numbers. There is other evidence. I am getting an implant!

It happened because I chomped down on a pecan shell that shouldn't have been in the pecans I put in my waffle. Upper back took went...ccccrrrraaackk! Dr. Dentist said, "Tooth gone, go for the implant. Dr. Oral Surgeon has removed the tooth and implanted the base. In a few months, I'll have the first all false tooth. See, it's official...I'm old.

Darn it!

It's Started

The yearning...that feeling that saturates your body with hope and desire in the middle of January and grows stronger in February. The voices that say...it's coming! It's coming. As the temperatures hover in the 70's and wander into the 80's for a day or two, it might snow in Denver. Wonderful sunshine that the people of Seattle would envy pour into the windows almost every day. Only occasionally do we in San Antonio have to deal with winter in winter. So, here I am, in mid-February, getting things ready for spring.

So far we have had the cedar elms de-mossed and trimmed a bit to be more tidy. Cone flowers that were misplaced in the garden have been dug up and potted. The lawn has been aerated and spread with specially formulated Alamo grow compost from Gardenville. The garden areas have been spaded into big chunks then applied with that compost, and some have been tilled. Herbs are finding their way into my pots. Tomotoes purchased a couple weeks ago and uppotted, were put into the ground yesterday. That could be a bit optomistic, but I can cover if needed. Pavers have been purchase and stacked because a new walk is in the making.

Yes, it has started. Seems I'm taking a bit more ibuprofen these days.

Last Year's Project

I worked all last year on a quilt for my sister. It was supposed to be for Christmas and it was suppose to be a surprise. I didn't quite finish in time for it to arrive in New Zealand by Christmas, but I was close. As for the surprise, well...she may have had a bit of an idea.


I kept our mom informed. She loves being in on things. But she is pretty terrible at keeping a secret. Not that she comes right out and tells, she just leaves little crumbs to be picked up and combined over time. But, that's ok.

Susan's phone message left on the recorded after she got it was priceless.

Amazing Lips

As a kid, I grew up watch cowboy movies. Somewhere in every movie, the "boys" would settle down around a campfire and some old boy would bring out his harmonica. Who could forget Roy Rogers and his Sons of the Pioneer. Remember "Tumbling Tumbleweeds.Great harmonica. If Roy Rogers were alive today, he'd try to get Buddy Greene and his harmonica.

JAWS Lunch

One of the greatest joys of retirement is the ability to have lunch OUT! All those years of the 30 minute lunch, which sometimes included some "duty" / baby-sitting with teens, have made the idea of a leisurely lunch in a restaurant (no cooking or clean-up) the ideal celebration of freedom. To this end, a group of retired teachers with a connection to John Jay High School, gather once a month to celebrate.

JAWS stands for Jay Articulate Women's Society. Our founder and organizer is Barbara Spaur. She is the "Barbie" woman at the end of the row to the right of the picture. Our goal is to try new and exciting eateries while enjoying old friendships and catching up with one another's news. We were missing several of our regulars, but added two new Jay-ers, Carol Johnson and Leslie Bishop, sitting in Barbara's row. Another of our group had already left before the camera was remembered.

Need to Book

Dijea and Stehle. You will be be in New Zealand during the school holidays. That means we must book early if we are to get the cheap flights and best accommodations. You will be there for two weekends, but you arrive early Friday morning of the first weekend, and you leave Sunday morning of the second. So, you will be tired after the arrival and tired to begin going home. So keep that in mind.

Could leave Friday afternoon or evening. Lizzie would like to join you. If you choose Nelson or Christchurch, she could take off on the Friday. Susan and I probably won't go with you in such a case, especially since you want to go off on your own.

Nothing really to book if you chose the Whaganui trip. Of course, you may have found other things. So let us know. We need to book. Susan is waiting for an answer.

I've tried to make things easier by putting links into my entries. Don't miss them. Spend some time here.

Wish I could...

Those who know me, especially my family, know I love to take pictures. I like to build CD videos to tell a story and have completed some I am proud of. I came across one today I really admire: Texas Everywhere

Timing of pictures and music is really nice. Seeing this makes me wish I'd learned to play the guitar...or piano...or kept my accordian (and practiced). I also wished I'd been bless with some sort of singing ability. The hardest thing for me in creating videos is the music. All I can do is borrow.

Christmas Doings

This is the first Christmas season in a while that we have gotten into the spirit. Since we usually go out of town for the holidays, we don't do much preparation at home. This year was different. We scheduled two parties and starting decorating.

Walt decided to host the San Antonio Watercolor Group's annual Christmas meeting and pot luck supper. We had a lovely group and a bounty of good food. Luckily, the weather held because we seated folks on the deck for dinner.

Next up were our "John Jay connections" friends. I decided to do a chilli supper. I got new dishes and a big pot and moved forward. Once again, the weather cooperated. We set up 3 big tables on the deck. We ate, drank and were merry.

DECORATING

How nice to have good friends who will help you. After leading the way in Hobby Lobby saying, "Buy this...This will work...Must have...", Margie Nichta, seen below, directed the decorating committee. I dropped out quickly (not so much my thing), and she and Walt finished up.

When Old is New Again

In the modern days of Thomas the Train, when hundreds of train cars are available in wood, metal and plastics, it's hard to believe how simple toys could be and were. What you are seeing are Walt's toys from his childhood...the "war years" when metals were available only for the war effort and plastic wasn't a factor yet. Here shine the glass replicas of the vehicles of the day.

Originally, these beauties came filled with tiny, BB-like candies. Eat the candy, then a child is left with the toy. These are the only toys Walt remembers playing with. He played with them inside the house and outside in the dirt. Most are in perfect shape, but there is a wheel missing here and there. He must have been very careful with them and protected them to still have them more that 60 years later. Compare this number of toys and the present condition with a six-year-old boy of today.

We decided to display them for the first time in our antique cabinet in the great room. My attention was drawn to them today because the sun from the new upper window spotlighted them amazingly. Also shown for the first time is our collection of mustache cups that were the pride and joy of Walt's dad. The sunlight hadn't yet reached them, or had already been and moved on from that shelf when I walked by. Guess I'll have a new picture to look forward to.

November Fun

Get busy, and you forget or just fail to update. Novermber was a fun month and deserved some postings. First off, the weather was super...until Thanksgiving. I took advantage and spent a lot of time in the yard. Also enjoyed reading on my lovely covered porch surrounded by sunshine and mild temps. The first weekend I helped out with Marcia and Jorge's Art Stroll. I can't do any art, but they let me take up the money. This year Marcia's sister and her mother were on hand as well. I call them them the "sassy" Loews. It was fun. At the same time, Walt was helping out Mary and David with their home tour. (Gee, we have INVOLVED friends.) That effort got us invited to the party afterward. Also attending was SA's former mayor and the sister of the present mayor. Does that by any chance make me important? I guess not, but it does give me a tiny bragging right.

Live Oaks Get Hair Cut

On the way home from Mom's on a Sunday afternoon, we notices some tree trimmer working on live oaks at a shopping center. Using small equipment and tall ladders, they were carefully trimming out the dead and removing moss. We stopped and asked them to take a look at ours.

A week later, they were cleaning out our trees. These guys worked so hard. One was a monkey that climbed way up where I thought no man would go. A really good job. We are so glad to have them done.

They also dug up the youpon trees that were really getting out of hand. Suckers kept coming up and we just couldn't keep up with the growth. For the time being, we'll let the bed rest to see how many youpon come up again and get rid of them.

Birthdays are Wonderful.

Birthday's are WonderfulI did have to cook my own birthday dinner, but I made it a simple affair. Mom came over and you see her on the porch visiting with Walt's new pet, C P (clay pig). I have some new pets too. BB (big bird) is the apple of my eye. I saw her sister about 3 years ago and have been looking for one for myself since then. We found her and CP the day before my birthday and adopted them on the spot. .

Such Imagination

This bird house was a surprise. Look closely. It was made from a toilet tank part.

Better Late than Never

I took these pictures when Mom and I went to Corpus to see Willie Bodden who was residing in Spohn Hospital for the week. The time laspe is due to figuring out how to get the pictures from my phone camera into the computer. First you have to have a data cable and some special software. It would not have been a problem if I had the picture service, but I didn't want to spring for the service when I didn't think I'd use it. Shame on cheap old me.

Signs of Fall

I know it is fall because there is a pumpkin outside my door. It called my name over and over again until I picked it out of the big pumpkin box at the grocery store. At first I thought I'd cook it, but then I saw my trusty spider all alone in the flower bed and thought they might enjoy a season together.

Other fall things are occuring too. In the last two weeks I have baked three lemon pies, two apple pies and one chocolate pie. I've also started cooking stew.

Oh, the leaves are starting to fall too.

News Item

O J is back in the news. What struck me was that he had to give up his passport. First thought: What if your bail depended on your being able to find you passport to give up? Could I find mine? Could you find yours? Ok, so most of you are organized and can find it. Go look. Is it still valid? If not, you'd better see about getting it renewed. I renewed mine last year...on line. Very simple. Only the cost hurt.

Everyone needs a valid passport. You can never tell when your grandmother is going to get on "The Price is Right" and win a trip for two to some exotic place. If she invites you, you'd have to have a passport. Then there is the possibility that you would be invited to participate in the international video game championship to be held in Norway next summer. Without a passport, you'd have to drop out of the contest. What a shame. Worst would be to miss a date with George Clooney in Italy. And on a more practical level, you do need that passport to give to the authorities when you are arrested for that exceptionally bad hair day that offends the whole world. I know you would be so embarrassed that you'd want to flee the country. I know that; the FBI knows that.

Order your new passport now and be prepared.

New Hairdresser

Finding a new hairdresser is tough. I started out asking for recommendations. First requirement is a location close to home. A lady and Curves recommended one really close. I went. Once was enough. My second attempt was to try my friend Margie Nichta's hairdresser. Her location is near Mom's house, so that is good.

You can see the result. She got more bounce out of me than I have seen in a long while, and I really liked the color job. The pictures are from the day of the appointment. Now, will I be able to produce the same effect?

Missing Hairdresser

Jo Starr has been my hairdresser for 22 years...ever since moving to San Antonio. She is my husband's cousin, and I dearly love our visits. The only drawback is that she lives and works in San Marcus. I have to drive a long way. Worse, she decided to get a new life. Sold her business and ran away to Alaska with an exciting dude!

ALL TOGETHER

Seldom does the entire family get to visit San Antonio, but we got to have them the last week of summer. Mason works and goes to school during the week, and Dijea works weekends. That doesn't leave an opportunity for the whole gang to travel south. Mason was between semesters, so they opted to visit. While I had them here, I managed to get a new family photo. The one that resides on Big Grandma's fridge is from Christmas two years ago. Time to replace.

We enjoyed the boys and their folks. They are a pretty good bunch of kids.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Indulge me, please, as I share a couple of things I love.

I’ve just finished a remarkable book titled, The Girls, by Lori Lansens. It is only her second novel, but it is wonderful. I would never have picked up this book to read except that my sister recommended it. (My sister is one of those persons I love.) When she tells me to read a book, I know I’ll love it.

The back cover quotes another author who says, “…From the first paragraph you know you’ve begun something very special.” I couldn’t agree more. The author takes what most of us would consider an insurmountable human condition and elevates it to a joyful living. It’s the fictional autobiography of conjoined craniopagus twins. I promise, it is not a tear jerker; instead, it is an affirmation of the joy of loving. Aunt Lovey is my favorite character. If I were starting out as a new grandmother, I’d asked to be called Lovey by my grandchildren.

On a more frivolous note, I recommend the movie, Hairspray. What fun! I laughed and laughed. If you liked Grease when you were young, you’ll like this musical now.