New Zealand in the Texas Landscape

Looking around my backyard yesterday, I was surprised to see so much of New Zealand in my landscape. These are snaps of items brought to me by my sister who lives there or brought back by me. Among the pansies are a pair of lovely pukeko birds. This are my favorite New Zealand birds. They remind me of chickens, but the color is all blue. Love the orange beaks and legs. The paua shells that hang in my metal tree reflect the blue of the waters and shimmer in the light when the wind blows them. These shells get used in all sorts jewelry and art produced in New Zealand. The sea glass, small stones and tumbled brick pieces I found on the beach of Days Bay across from Wellington. The larger stones in the bird bath I picked up from a Pacific Ocean beach. The sound of the water rolling onto the beach of stones and receding back to the ocean amazes me and remains one of my fondness memories of visits.

Orange You... ?

...happy. How can you help but be amist beauty and grandkids. Spring break took us to Dallas to babysit and play. I took all the kids to the Arboretum. I think the whole town had the same idea. Very crowded, but quite enjoyable.

Walt got to experience "deer camp with Blake and Robbie. I created an abundance of excitement by falling and turning my ankle. Dijea and Mason rushed me off for an MRI. Much to do about nothing, thank goodness. Ended up involved in the girls' garage sale. Got in a bit of shopping. Good week.

JAWS in February

If you missed this month, then you were definitely talked about...but only a little because we all have too much other stuff to talk about.

New Big Grandma

For quite a while now, I have been doing BG's hair. She fired me and told me to find someone new. Pure luck took me to Pam, who does housecalls. Much better than the last time you saw her, don't you think?

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.