5.7.09

This book I'm reading... Should have stayed home

I am reading this book with a bunch of short stories all about the worst trips of best writers. I am totally loving it. You have to read it. I rented it at the library and I know they even have another book. Let me just say there are some classic stories. Over this reunion filled holiday weekend, I kept many a family member entertained with tales of these travel trips gone horribly awry.

I can tell you, I never want to have a run in with army ants, stay in Calcutta in a hut instead of a hotel, or go to Bali without a bug net. :) I only hope I can travel to half of these places, though!

22.6.09

Thrill Hill ... Not so much of a hill


Hedron and I took Jer to work a couple of weeks ago and passed this fantastic road sign. After we raced him to work, I couldn't resist dragging her back to the road to see if it was a thrill. Be honest, wouldn't you have done it too?

I know... hence the reason we had to do it too. Now we can say "We've been on Thrill Hill". Impressive...

So final thoughts on the hill that thrilled... Hedron and I voted "not so thrilling". A couple of hill that would have been really cool if we had been in a vehicle higher than dad's little sedan. So if you wanna ride old thrill hill, we suggest a different one.

21.6.09

Ray Ray... Our happy dog

You know, the more I stop and pay attention to the world around me, the more I notice how much I can learn from it. One of the verses the I remember from way back in Sunday school is one Proverbs 6:6. About watching the ant that works even though no one is watching. I know it is telling us not to be lazy amongst a couple of other things, but for some reason I always think of it as an example of how to observe nature. Granted, I do like some of nature more than others (insects).

Over the years, Tiffany, Jeremy and I have remarked at the different attitudes and personalities that each of our very loved dogs have. Baby is our boy. He is the protector, the peaceful one (now that he is older). He is the one that will sit at my feet forever. He loves my chair and will sneak into it if I give him half the chance. He is the one that I cried on when I read Marley and Me. Jewels the newest edition to the pack is the playful one and the one the drives me the most crazy. She plays a game of tag with me by licking my hands and then jumping all around me.

Now Ray Ray... She is the friendly one. She is the happiest one. If you have come to our house you have probably had the attention of our little Ray Ray. She will lick you forever.
Even her bark sounds happy. She is a favorite at the vet. She flirts with everyone. So far she is the only one I have taken to the vet that gets a treat from almost all of the vet's staff. She was the dog we almost lost when she was a puppy. After 2 weeks (or so), and more Pepto Bismol, Pedialyte and pink puppy throw up than we ever want to experience again, she made it.

I have no idea why she is the way she is. Part of it is nature and the way dogs are, I think another reason is her previous life experiences. I know they say dogs only remember for a couple of seconds. But I think she remembers things. She seems to care for everyone. At night, when Baby and Ray Ray come in to go to sleep, she takes the time to visit with me and when Baby comes to sit by her she takes care of him. She is the nurturer. Sometimes she is the forgotten one because she is so easy. She just seems to fade into the pack sometimes. But she is amazing to watch. She can crack you up with the use of surroundings to get some of what I can only imagine is fantastic sleep. Whether it be a box, a pillow, a chair arm, anything turns into a pillow if needed.

I love the carefree life of dogs... How long has it been since I ran just to feel the wind in my hair, took a special interest in a bug (that will probably never happen), enjoyed the car ride, ran in a sprinkler? Dogs are amazing creatures. I know that my "babes" will be there whether I am rich or poor, ugly or pretty, whether I am having a bad day or a good day. There is never a time where I am not a major focus in their life. I know they would follow me to the ends of the earth. I thank God everyday for my dogs. In this time of my life, where changes are everywhere and money is tight, and people are not always truthful, it is amazing to come home and have her waiting for me who thinks I am amazing and is ready to share her love of the world with me.

Daytripping to Fredricksburg...

With Jeremy working close to Kerville, we've been spending some time in and around the Kerville/Fredricksburg area. I love that area to just spend the day. A couple of weeks ago, we spent a couple of hours there and I took some pictures of the local churches. They are filled with so much history they are beautiful! It is hard not to think they are gorgeous. I didn't have the time to go in each one and I think they were closed, but I went in the two big ones a couple of years ago and they have beautiful wood pews, hand carved altar areas and beautiful stained glass windows. It is almost opulent... or maybe it is.

This one is my favorite as far as my composition. I really like the shadows pointing to the fence and the fence leading you back to the church. The use of black and white was accidental, but I think it really emphasizes the solitude and historical aspect of the church.

Film roll change...

This picture and the one below were harder to photograph. I tried several angles, but in the end the one the emphasized the grandeur and sizes of the two churches was the best angle.

Favorite of the these two churches. Again wanted to emphasize the size.

This door is pretty fabulous. I like the character in the wood, shape, and the look.

Old buildings have so much more character than newer buildings usually. In these buildings, you can really see the craftmanship. You can see the artistry and the work that went into each detail. You can see how important the quality is. I know that the opulence and grandeur of these churches has a darker side, but I can look past it and really take in the fantastic artistry that went into each of these churches.

15.6.09

Pictures and summer fun


I finally got some pictures developed.
This past weekend we babysat and had some fun on the slip n slide.





Even Jeremy got into it.


While they were trying to Slip and Slide, I was trying to burn chicken on the BBQ pit. :) Too bad this one was black and white or you might be able to see the... Shall we say crispyness?... better.


Over all a nice day in the sun.

15.5.09

The fun of photography

Earlier this year, I took a couple photography classes and really began to enjoy the art of photography. I was getting really good and trying to work on my composition and then the garden and work took over. But in recent weeks, I have totally stopped taking pictures. 

I am going to make an effort to take as many pictures in the next weeks as possible.  :) I am going to challenge myself to try to put up one pic a week (I am not sure if I will make it or not, but if I type it, it will hold me more accountable).

12.5.09

Garden Update

So 2 weeks ago I posted pics of "Gardenia", and now I have new pics of the garden. I am kinda wading in deep waters so I really have no idea what to do with the garden besides water and weed and someday I think I should fertilize but the rest is a mystery. I will feel my way along and experiment. Who knows. :)

You can see it is getting bigger and so are the weeds.






The corn is getting bigger and I am going to have to thin it out a bit. I got one with Babe so that you can see how big it is. 


















Look at my future (fingers crossed) vegetables. The buds and blooms will soon be Canteloupe (left) and squash (right). I have to say the canteloupe has really cute flowers. 

9.5.09

My adventure at the Pick N Pull

So my 16 year old car has technically broken down twice this week. And first my brother replaced the water pump and we were good to go.... UNTIL the loser car inspector (my inspection sticker is due too) got the emergency brake stuck. Sadly, it was kinda broken already so not entirely his fault. But my main complaint it he didn't even check the lights on the car in front of me. That guy didn't even get out of the car. I think it was age descrimination, but that is another story...

In the end, my brother continued to shine his brother crown by helping me with my car. He came all the way across town and disconnected the emergency brake and then the jeep sat in the driveway. And that is where, a couple days later, the adventure begins...

This afternoon, my dad, my other brother and I piled in the car with the broken part (the emergency lever) armed with a phone book and maps to the neighboring pick n pull places. My dad and brother totally dreaded it and said last time they went it took 3 hours... Yikes!! But of course, this time they had my sparkling personality to light their lovely way.

We got to the pick n pull and WOW! I found out it was like a scavenger hunt! They even gave me a map. Despite the fact that it was like 100 degrees out, our party combed through rows and rows of junk cars. Jeremy found "the car". And then we went to work on it to get the part we needed and 2 screws (thanks to someone who had previously taken the other part) we were outta there. Overall I had a great time! Literally, for 20 bucks, I got the part I needed and had a scavenger hunt at the same time!

And since Matt installed the part today she is good to go and will probably get her inspection tomorrow.

3.5.09

My dream life....well almost...

“Earth's crammed with heaven.”
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING


I am starting to plan for my long European trip. I will be taking it when I am 30 (not that far away). My best friend and I turn 30 the same year and had planned to take a fantastic vacation (if we are both still at this stage in our lives (singlish and family-less...we both have family but I mean kids, husband, house, American dream, yada-yada).

I am already researching it. I so want to go. I have bills and such, but am beginning to live for a super vacation. Maybe not even a vacation. I want to see the world. I mean how awesome is it that all of us came from the same 2 human beings and are so spread out, have such vastly different cultures and ideas, and have amazingly rich histories? I want to see what the world has to offer. I have already warned my aunt (boss) that I will be taking a leave of absence. I am going to try to feed this brain of mine any particle of travel advice I can find in preparation. 

I think that if I were not so afraid of missing people and making changes that I would be a world traveler (like this family http://www.soultravelers3.com/soultravelers3.html). I am fighting with myself and one half of me says to take a chance you only live once and the other says that is totally impossible in your situation and totally unrealistic. So as I write and learn about traveling I am going to try to post it so I am held accountable. At the very least, I am going to Europe during my 30th year and will have an utterly fantastic time and at the most (this might change I will try to live somewhere besides here in the US ...someday. I will try to lose the inhibitions and do what I would really love to do and not let anyone or thing discourage me. 

So we'll see what happens. It is going to be lovely no matter what!

27.4.09

My Gardenia (Yep...I named it)

So lately, I've been totally working in the new addition to my life... My garden.

















Talk about small steps...

First I was going to be totally happy if I could get out enough rocks so that at least one of my seeds grew...

Second I was going to be happy if just one of each of my seeds grew.





Now I just want some vegetables. :)


These are my little corn plants. They got kinda tilted with the rain.














Yesterday, I had to rip out every other one of my corn plants. Sad, but it will be better in the end. The pic beside here shows the sadly discarded corn plants. Good News though I did a little vegetable swap with the neighbors. Trading some of the corn plants for a couple of dill plants.








In the fall, I want to try square foot gardening.

24.4.09


Totally...

the beginning...

I told myself that I would create a blog even if I was the only one that ever read it. I think it is interesting to read the thoughts that other people have. You already know that if you know me. So here goes...