Joyous Tomorrows

 This morning as I headed out to the garden with the toddlers, I was struck by the joy my granddaughter expressed as she saw Kai waiting just out side.  She ran to him and hugged him as if he had been gone for a long time.  Kai is half Siberian Husky and half Chocolate Labrador and belongs to my son who shares him with us.  I was not sure what to expect of him as he grew from a puppy to an adult dog.  I have read of the Japanese using  the Akita breed as playmates for their children.  Kai appears to have a similar temperament.  I looked up  the meaning of the name and it is "sea" in Hawaiian, or "keeper of the keys;earth" in Wales.  I think he leans towards the earth. Later we returned to the porch and they began to play.  You can see the loving relationship they have.  It is a blessing to have a dog that adores children.

When April comes in Texas, we have a tradition.  The cameras come out and you load your children in their Easter clothes and head for the fields of bluebonnets.  Everyone wants to their child's picture in the bluebonnets.  My daughter is always out there too.  Today, I went along to help and took the toddler's with me so they could have their pictures taken in the bluebonnets. (if you click on the pictures they can be seen larger, then click the blue arrow back) They were like 'why am I here?' Then vanity took over and the two year old patted the four year old on the shoulder and stepped into the lime light.  The daughter had her two year old, the infant, and teens trying to catch a shot...since the two year old would not leave her side, the shot was in her lap.   She has that shot.  Then there was the reasoning that you must not pick the bluebonnets.  Be careful don't step on them...  That was a take...lol  They finall...

Yesterday was a regular muggy Texas day.  We had gone from light frosts almost overnight to the highs being in the 80's and the lows in the 60's.  We had brought out all the warm weather clothes and put up all the cool weather clothes. Then last night a front went through, it dropped to the 40's and although it is 60 degrees, the Northwest wind chill makes it much cooler.  We are searching for sweaters and sweatshirt jackets.  That did not stop the flowers though.   The Texas Coral Honeysuckle is growing like everything.  The Toddlers like to suck on the end and enjoy the sweet nectar. It grows wild along the road near my house and in the back of the farm. If you click on its name you can read about it. Then click the back arrow to come back here if you like. This is the toddler's mint garden.  There is Spearmint, Chocolate mint, Peppermint, and Pineapple mint, also Mexican Bush Sage on the side which is already beginning to bloom, and Colum...

glitter-graphics.com I was sitting and finishing emails at 10:30 when my phone rang. I wondered who could be calling at this hour as I walked over and picked up the phone. I glanced at the number and saw it was the second daughter, I thought she is usually in bed long before now, I wonder what could be wrong.  I said "hello?"  No  answer, I was wondering....Hello....Then I heard a giggle. It was my cutie grandson 'Little Red'. He babble talked a bit then said "love you" and gave me a kiss.   At this point his mom took the phone and  laughed saying he had been giving his dad a hard time and they called me thinking I was the only person they knew they could call safely that late at night. You Bet...I will accept a call to say 'I love you' from my grandson at anytime. It is good to be loved.

We started out our week ridding our garden of fire ants, then we decided to go hunting for wild flowers.  Weeds such as Flea bane qualified. The granddaughter wasn't sure what to do when told to smell the flower. We found some wild onions (which I know are really in the garlic family) and woodland violets. I love these. After our search the grandson watered our vertical garden of mints.  Oops some have escaped.  Wonder what mowing it will be like.

This is a tribute to a special friend who passed from this life to the other side of the veil this week. He was a professional golfer who taught many and loved the game, but that is not what he will be remembered for.  He was a friend to many, mentor for young and old, and a religious adviser who never forgot duty or honor. In our church, we have a program that is called home teaching.[The Elders of the church visit assigned families monthly.] He was our home teacher for many years.    Every once in a while you find a person like my friend whom I will call Sunshine.  Now why Sunshine.  Because he would always have a story or joke to bring the light of laughter or the positive rays of happiness into our living room.  When we faced some of our darkest hours, his friendship and encouragement was there...not just on a monthly basis, but frequent calls, just dropped by, secret helps.  He was always a doer of secret acts of kindness.  He had a h...

I love the spring time.  The first budding of the trees. the sprouts of grass, and the warmth of the sun.  I am so very excited about my fruit trees.  Look! As I was driving in to the driveway coming home after being away for 4 months helping my daughters, I was greeted by a cheery daffodil.   As I was unloading the car tonight, I looked up and the pear tree was glowing like a ghost tree in the dark. I, of course, had to get a picture of it.   My whole small orchard is in blossom.  Pray there isn't a late freeze. The blossoms give the promise of pear jam and canned pears. Not to mention, a beautiful cheery spot in the garden.  Tomorrow I will start pot cleaning, preparing to plant now that I am home.  I am excited!