Wordless Wednesday

Rewind

I have wanted to sit down and write a little for quite some time but I must admit...I do not like being inside the house much in the summer months. When I am not running the kids and their friends back and forth to summer band practice...I am usually out and about with my camera in hand hoping to capture something unusual or beautiful. If I am really lucky...something unusually beautiful.

Since I have written very little this summer...I feel like I should rewind and pick up where I left off. I've been sitting here thinking ...how am I going to write this entire summer in one post? Then I remembered...I don't have to write it all in one post.

It is a stormy day here in S.E. Texas. Actually...it blew in rather suddenly and just a bit violently around 1:30 this afternoon. I love stormy weather...except when I have to drive in it. Today I was out in the worst of it.

Walking around in my backyard...basking in the calm after the storm makes it all worthwhile.

Photo's: Pink Angel Trumpet. I planted it almost 4 years ago and until this summer...it refused to bloom. I originally had it in a pot out on the deck as advised by a local nursery. Last fall I was tired of messing with it. It looked awful...and had not once bloomed. I told my husband...lets put it in the ground...and if it comes back next summer great....if not then oh well! Last winter was one of the coldest winters we have had in years...and by spring the angel trumpet looked GONE! We cut it to the ground...and much to my surprise...it came back and bloomed! Another surprise...all that time I thought it was a white angel trumpet....it is pink and smells heavenly!

A Greene Family Update

Well, this week we are preparing for the Caleb's prom. I went with him to get Shay's corsage. yesterday was his last practice with the youth symphony. One more month and our Caleb will be a High School graduate! I can hardly believe how fast time is moving.It seems like just yesterday we were sitting in the NICU wishing we could take him home with us. Or dancing around the living room in his "Barney WONDERware" and his blue Binky in his mouth. Sorry son...your friends most likely won't be reading this...and if they do....trust me.. I feel certain they wore Barney WONDERware too.

Gianna has not felt good. Her allergies are really flared up...and she is cutting more teeth. I remember my kids hurting when they cut their teeth...but this sweet baby has really suffered. She has been wanting me to sit and hold her...which is not like her at all. So I know she is feeling poorly. I don't mind just sitting and holding her....watching her shows, and reading books. Spring has been rough on quite a few family members.

Shelby has been staying after school to catch up and stay on top of her school work. Still struggling with the ADD and Dyslexia...but is hanging in there. She has been helping our new neighbors with their laundry. And of course...time giggling at Randall on the phone. She is showing such maturity this year and I am very proud of her. She turned 16 on the 23rd of March and just the other day mentioned driving. Her brothers immediately said NO! Lord give me strength! I don't think our Shelby is quite ready to drive yet. The truth is more like WE are not ready for Shelby to drive! Soon sweetie.

Stephen gets himself up every morning and goes to college. When he is not at school...he is at work. What precious little time he has left...he sleeps, bathes, eats and starts the day all over. He had the whole day off on Sunday and he took his brother and sister to see a movie. He still plays in the College band and just recently accepted a position to play Bassoon in a community players musical. He is thinking of possibly moving into a dorm next semester...which we are not totally against...it probably would be a good experience for him. But, Randy and I silently hope he will continue to live at home. Hey...home is free and I know he is fed and rested. I can't help it...I am still his mommy.

Life for Mr. Matthew is pretty much same ol' same ol'....just the way he likes it. A couple of times a week we try change his routine up just a little. Like by taking him to a movie, or a short walk at the park. He will oblige...but he lets us know clearly that this not what we normally do. He has this thing about getting into the chairs. The fact that it folds makes him nervous. We hold it down for him, he screams as his sits....and then we are fine. Lately he has been going through his chatty phase. Don't get me wrong...he is always pretty verbal....but it is a language that is all his own. Most of the time we can figure out what he is trying to say....Sometimes he says something as clear as a bell....but sometimes we still struggle to understand.

Work is finally slowing down for Randy. Tax season is always quite hectic. But with the warmer weather and the extra daylight we are out in the evening piddling around the yard. Randy has so many things he wants to do outside. Currently he is planning to build a new shop and a green house for me. I mostly want a place to put my plants in case next winter is like this last one. The crazy freezes we had killed quite a bit of our pretty stuff. I am not sure why but it seems everyone has a yard FULL off weeds this year. So he spent half the evening spraying them...and the other half throwing the tennis ball for a certain Labrador.

As for Monica....My photography class was pushed to the end of May...which is no doubt for the best...but I am so ready to get started. I am still keeping Gianna everyday. We spend almost every morning outside playing in the yard. She plays in the butterfly garden and has no clue that she is helping me develop the art of photography. She also has no clue how much joy she brings to my life. I am doing very well. Like everyone else, I have ups and downs, But, I have remained faithful to the promise that I made to myself. Ridding my heart of burdens, letting go of hurts of the past...and focusing only on what and those who bring joy. Though I admit, sometimes that is easier said than done.... I have learned that when I focus on the gifts in my life, I see blessings everywhere.

Fire Ants

Normally at this time of year..we are in a full blown war with the Fire Ants. Randy will treat one pile...only to find the next day that the pile has moved a foot or so over from the last. Leaving Randy completely befuddled, and scratching his head. Well...this year seems to be different. I am thinking that either we are just extremely lucky this year...or perhaps the numerous freezes of the winter has killed them. This was without a doubt the coldest winter I have experienced in quite a few years. Not at all typical for this area. Normally...we might get snow once every 20 years...this year we saw it twice! Oh well...maybe the nasty little pests moved off to a better climate.. HA! yeah right!

Gotta Lotta Catchin Up To Do

My gosh, I cannot believe that have not written a blog since March 20th! I sure have a lot of catching up to do. All the way from Shelby's (16th!) birthday on the 23rd, to Spring break, playing and chasing Gianna, and all the way to the County Fair last weekend. I'll work on that post this weekend. I still have quite a few pictures to edit and upload. I am finished with the Spring Cleaning on the inside...except for going through Matthew and Stephens closets. There are a few things I need to get ready to donate. Outside, the yard is really beginning to look good. I do plan to get the pressure washer out this weekend and tidy up the outside of the house and change those Winter windows to Spring looking glass! Then I can finally do my favorite part...gardening! I have Four O' Clocks, Petunia's, Morning Glory's, Marigolds, Sunflowers, lavender, several climbing plants and butterfly bushes to plant. I love, Love, LOVE to garden...the whole world slows down... and for just a little while....peace.

It's The Little Things...

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain
Oh my goodness gracious, do I feel lazy! This comes over me about this time every year. The kids are out of school for Spring Break and our life finally slows down a bit. I do miss my girl Gianna...but for now the quiet is nice.

Saturday, Randy and the kids cleaned the yard...while I relaxed out on the deck. HEY! Someone has to be the supervisor! The sun felt wonderful! I just propped my little feet up, closed my eyes and soaked up the warmth of the sun and the fresh air. It was a glorious day! Mowing was not an easy task...it has rained so much this winter and the ground is still quite soft....but the yard looks so much better and I am happy to report...I am beginning to see some green grass peeking up through all the brown.

Well...that is not all I did. I also got my camera out and took a few pictures of my family working in the yard, the beautiful blooms that are bursting out on every tree limb and of course...the adorable black lab playing fetch. He has been waiting for someone to throw that ball for weeks! I was all going well for him...until he decided to attack the weed eater. The weed eater didn't get him...but he broke his toenail when he was dancing around it. "Tiny Tim" will milk that injury for every drop of pity he can get.... for days!


On Sunday...the rain showers returned and we stayed in bed all day long. We watched a few movies a few crime shows and snacked in between naps. Isn't it amazing how the littlest things mean so much. Some take off for great places like Fort Lauderdale, Disney for Spring Break...but we are just enjoying the fact that there is no rush and we can sleep late! AH SPRING!


If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. ~Anne Bradstreet

Feathered Visitors

These little cuties have been showing up in my backyard lately. I'm not sure what kind of birds they are...but they are almost tame. They let me get very close...and when I do get close...theydon't fly away
they just kind of hop away. Some of them have the bright lemon yellow belly and the others a have just a light yellow but mostly gray belly
I am pretty sure the bright yellow would be the males...since male birds are usually prettier than the females. They are happy, tiny birds that sing a pretty little tune.
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There are many birds that choose to stay here in Southeast, Texas for the Winter months...but I don't think that I have ever seen these little guys before.

Spring is fading....

Summer is right around the corner and the kids are finally out of school! Well, sort of...Shelby has to go back on Monday...and every Monday- Thursday from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. She didn't quite pass the math section (missed by 4 points) of the TAKS EXAM. If you are not from Texas...this is a pain in the tail exam the state makes our students take...and even if they have straight A's on their report card...if they don't pass this test...they fail the grade anyway. They get three chances to pass it....and Shelby has already taken it for the second time....but the results didn't come in on time. So until they do...she has to attend summer school. If she passed it...then she doesn't have to go back. If she didn't...she will attend class for 4 more weeks and take the exam one final time. Poor darling. She struggles with ADD and Dyslexia.

This morning Hubby and I finished putting the butterfly garden together and the seeds have been sown. FINALLY! For now, I will have my hands full just keeping Sparky (the resident squirrel) and all the Cardinals from eating the seeds. We planted quite a variety to attract not only butterflies...but hopefully hummingbirds as well. On the opposite side of the deck we have a "Firebush" it was here when we moved in and grows to 7 ft every summer. The hummers and butterflies love it! Once the plants come up a bit...I will add a water source...hopefully it will be a solar birdbath/fountain...and a butterfly house. I just love sitting in the swing in the morning and watching all the wildlife come right up to the deck.

Recently, I noticed a little black cat hanging around on the deck eating some cat food I had put in a bag to give to the Raccoons. Every time we went outside...she would run...but I tried calling her and to my surprise she came running to me... rubbing on my leg and purring quite loudly.It was then that I noticed that she is very pregnant. So for the last week or so we have been setting some food out. As friendly as she is...it is obvious...at least to me that she once belonged to someone....and most likely has been dumped. In my opinion...this one of the cruelest things that a human being can do to a helpless animal. Dump them and just leave them to starve. :( I am not quite sure where to set her up for the birthing...I can't put her in the house as my nosey critters would probably make her very nervous. Anyway...it looks like the event is not that far off...so soon I will be trying to find homes...any suckers...oops! UH I mean takers? :)

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. " ~Gertrude Jekyll

Double Purple Angel Trumpet

Just had to take a little break to show you! The cold snap we had did not kill the "Double Purple Angel Trumpet" bud... It opened this morning.... Isn't it beautiful! If you are not familiar with 'Angel Trumpets' Here is a website about them. They come in many different colors and even do well in a pot on the porch. If you just go up and smell one...there is no smell...
but the evening breeze carries their soft, beautiful relaxing aroma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brugmansia

http://www.directgardening.com/detail.asp?nav=&pid=7475