Learn To Count Your Blessings

While I was in Texas packing up the oldest daughter and grumbling about sleeping on loveseats and air mattresses, JB was doing his part for the world.

As I understand it, one of the neighbors ran over a turkey's nest and left 13 eggs homeless. My husband stepped in, aided by my little friend down the road.

Stella, (our talking thermometer) found a new home standing watch in the incubator for the unborn turkeys. I understand my crystal desk lamp was needed as well.

I have come to rely on Stella. She tells me the indoor temperature as well as the out door temperature, at regular intervals. I guess I have become somewhat spoiled.

I'm often entertained when she flakes out and gets things confused sometimes. This minor malfunction causes alarm to guests and is often a source of amusement to JB and I.
Nonetheless, she responded to a higher calling while I was away--and I understand.

I missed crystal my lamp, but quickly got over it when I realized how fortunate I am that the eggs are not in my kitchen!

I went down to visit the eggs today.

I think the due date is June 20.

Realizing Our Role In The Environment

It was so hot when I was in Texas two weeks ago, that even the animals at the zoo looked put out.

The constant wind was hot--very hot.
When the temperature reached the high 90s and above, I wanted ice cream.

I walked a block to the 7-11 one day and brought two pints of ice cream back to the apartment.

I ate one pint by myself.

Now that Miss Jessica and I are in Virginia, it's as if the Texas heat has followed us. Temps in the high 90s--coupled with high humidity--have forced us indoors to watch old movies and eat cucumber sandwiches.

This reminds me of a similar scenario when I visited Virginia and brought the cold weather back to West Texas. It was the visit that I married JB and returned to Texas to pack up the house and move to Virginia.

Have you ever seen snow on Prickly Pear and Yucca?

I hadn't heard of tornadoes in this part of the country either until after I moved back.
Did I bring those too?

My Friends Are All Outside

Looking the other way doesn't work well with deadlines.
Come to think of it, I can't think of a single instance when it does work.

I've been facing all the mounting daily challenges head on--
putting in a lot of late hours and stumbling to bed
closer to midnight most days.

I need a break occasionally to clear my overloaded brain.
The sunshine streaming in the windows
lures me away from computers and web design.

Once outside, I take a walking tour of our little "kingdom,"
soaking in the fresh air and sunshine
while taking notice of the latest gifts Mother Nature has brought us.

I spent one afternoon trimming all the bridal wreath.
I'm noticing more things that are starting to bloom...

Every little bloom is encouraging me
to get through with all this book stuff,
so I can come play for the summer.

Chill Out... It'll All Be Fine

I had a rough day.
Two of my Friday tests have been moved
to the Monday after Apple Butter weekend.

That's rough and requires a new plan.

I decided since everyone has been looking
at the last two oatmeal bars in my cake dish
that are not edible because they've been there entirely too long
(and I never removed them because they looked pretty and
were not growing hair or anything)
that I should make oatmeal bars for Friday Night Get-Together.

So I did.

I also decided while the oatmeal bars were cooking,
I could take this bag of stuff down to the composter.
It was getting a bit smelly just to insert egg shells.

For this week's Get-Together, my little friend had a lovely table set.

It was a bit chilly, so she lit the old wood cookstove in her kitchen.

I'm a bit menopausal, so Jake and I sat out on her back porch to escape the heat.

It looks like I have room for company. Would you like to visit for a spell?

What Have We Learned?

After hours of studying and reviewing nice little index cards with all the required vocabulary and concepts, I feel as if my head could explode.

Just Too Much Information.

You see that deer's expression? He's looking at me like that because I talk to him... all of them. Not like I'd talk to you or JB, but more like I talk to my dog, Blue.

I can say anything to them and they just listen attentively. I review biology concepts with them all the time--me on the back deck while they're scrounging under the Persimmon tree.

Sometimes, I'll just share my "to do" list or my "done" list.

Most everything takes on a different perspective once it verbalized, don't you think?

They just look at me like I have three heads...