We Got Lazy....

We like to feed the birds.

They're fun to watch....

flitting around, jockeying for a place on the feeder.

And, it makes a great place to get shots of them.

The photo above is from a few weeks ago.

This was yesterday.

This is today.

Another feeder bites the dust.

It was in many pieces.  Brittle plastic, made more brittle by 

freezing temps.

We have an on-going battle with squirrels and raccoons.

I gave up counting how many feeders they have ruined.

This one I found at a garage sale, for $5.00.

The last one they tore up, cost WAY more.

We've tried ones designed to keep those rascally critters out.

But, how to keep them from taking them off the hooks,

and throwing them to the ground?

I refuse to give up.

We like watching the birds.  

So, we'll get another feeder.

We just need to remember to bring them in at night.

***********

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

Sunday Afternoon....

Friday, we had ice.

Yesterday, it got almost to 80F.

Photo by Bailee

We got together to celebrate our daughter-in-law's birthday.

Brunch at The Leaning Pear.

Corned beef hash, with poached eggs.

I had the same...without the birthday candle...delicious.

After a walk and some shopping on the Square,

we ended up at Inoz'.

They have good food, too.  And, a great deck, overlooking 

Cypress Creek.

Photo by Bailee

A good place to have a beverage, on a beautiful afternnoon.

We had come to see the Carvings.

Photo by Bailee

A couple of trees have died behind the restaurant.

Instead of just taking them down, they're being carved.

With a chain saw.

Photo by Bailee

Amazing, what can be done, with a clunky chain saw.

Photo by Bailee

The Grand Girls were having fun with cameras, taking pix of each other.

Photo by Bailee

And, selfies.

It was a very good day.

Today...another cold front has arrived.

We're forecast more 'winter precipitation' tonight.

Gotta love Texas weather.

***********

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

Arctic Blasts....

The yo-yo weather continues.

We were 80s...then, WHAM!....

we had a COLD front, and this...

Sleet....freezing rain....and, a little snow.

It came at night, of course.  Hard to get photos, at night.

The ice pellets looked like glitter, on the umbrella table.

By daylight, the ground had a heavy dusting of ice.

It's still cold.  But, the sunlight coming through the clouds, is melting it away.

Still wet out there, though.

So, it'll probably freeze over again, tonight.

Sunday is forecast for mid 70s.

Then next week, another cold...but dry...front.

Up and down.

Up and down.

It's hard to stay ready.

Hope you're warm and comfy, wherever you are.

***********

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

What Santa Brought....

Wow!

This month is moving along.

It's been busy around here.
I'm trying to Simplify things, as we put away Christmas decorations.
Funny how much time it takes to
SIMPLIFY.

I've been keeping up with my 365 Project...
a photo a day for A WHOLE YEAR!
I've been posting over on my
Flickr page.

But, I wanted to take a minute to show you what Santa brought.

Yep...a windmill.

Isn't it pretty?

It's out in the new area.  My vision was to see it through the Grass Bed.
The Gulf Muhly is still looking good.
I have plans for more grasses.

We have a star theme going on here.
So, this fits right in.

It's purely decorative.  But wouldn't it be nice, if it was pumping water?

With our wind lately, it's getting a work out.

I like it.

**********
The weather here has been like a yo-yo.
It's been so dry, the temperatures have been really up and down.
Below freezing, for lows. Then, 70s and 80s in the afternoon.

We've been having a colder winter, than last year.
One morning, it was 12F, after being below freezing for several hours.
I'm pretty sure I'll be replacing some plants.

The challenge of gardening here, continues.

**********
On a happy note:
Our daughter is CANCER FREE!!

We are beyond happy.  Two different cancers, in two years....
well...let's just say...that puts the garden challenge in perspective.

And, even more good news...
our son-in-law has found a good job down here in Texas...where he belongs.

So, we are doin' the Happy Dance around here.

**********
OK....I've gotta go Simplify some more....
and, dig up weeds.

'Til later...

Take care...
~~Linda~~

This and That on Thrusday...

Yesterday was drizzly, all day.

8-365

The day before, the low was 12F.

Yesterday, it was 39F

And, today it was 54F!

As they say....If you don't like the weather in Texas,

just wait a minute.

Whitewing Dove

After a bit of fog this morning, the day has turned out to be 

beautiful.

Squirrel harassing Maggie

I got out and took a walk around the back.

The creek isn't running much.

It's quit coming over the cart path and waterfall.

It stops here, in this pond area.

It must soak into the ground here.  

Looking back from the pond, through the Deer Grove, to the house,

you can see that the rye grass is still green.

This tree, which didn't make it through the drought,

fell a while back.  When we had the Halloween Flood,

the water rushed through here, to just beyond the first upright

trees you can see.  WAY to close too the house, for my comfort.

Back up to the house....the sun makes the bottle tree look like stained glass.

The hummingbird feeder our oldest granddaughter gave me for my birthday

dropped its feeding tube.  But, it still makes a pretty ornament.

Makes 'stars' on the siding.

9-365

From the other side, the sun shining through it is just beautiful....

like the day.

***********

7-365

By the way...here's my offering for #7 of my 365....

silicone potholders.  A gift from our daughter.

I love them.

*******

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

Three Kings Day....

January 6th.

The day many Christian people celebrate as the Epiphany.

The day the Three Kings reached the Christ Child.

Growing up, we didn't really celebrate this day.

The decorations would be down, long before now.

But, since ours are still up, 

I think I'll show you our little 

'Nativity Scene'.

6-365

This has been in Mr P's family, for more years than anyone knows.

Over a hundred years, at least.

It's not marked, but we think it's German porcelain.

My mother-in-law's mother was first generation German American.

Her father came over from Germany, alone, when he was twelve.

Some pieces are missing. 

The Mary and Joseph are from something else.

The original Mary is gone.

I think maybe the figure in blue might have been Joseph.

But, we make him a Wise Man.

The donkey is cracked, and the angel (out of this picture) and one of the

Wise Men, have lost hands.

But, the Baby Jesus is in tact.  Cradled in his little manger.

The perfect symbol of the lasting HOPE

for PEACE and JOY.

************

So, just as I thought...I missed a day of the 365, yesterday.

I'm supposed to take a photo a day.  But, the day got away from me.

So, I took a photo today, for yesterday.

Is that breaking the rules?

I think this exercise is for me.  To practice my photography.

So, I'm bending the rules a bit, today.

I'll try to do better.

5-365

We're having a bit of cold here today.

The new/old feeder, that I found for $5 at a garage sale, 

is getting a lot of customers.

When I mentioned in a text that it was chilly here,

our son-in-law sent a picture of himself, so we could compare.

He's back in North Dakota, today.

It's a bit 'chilly' there, too.

Brrrrrr.......

He's staying inside, now.  Everything is closed down there for today.

Their wind chill is minus 31F.  It's warmed up a little.

Hope you're safe and warm wherever you are.

*****

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

365...Day 4...

Whew...

this 365 project just might be a real task.

We've been putting away Christmas decorations, 

and getting ready for a big 

ARCTIC BLAST.

Not just what I call a 'drive-by freeze',

but one that lasts for hours.

We've already had one of those this winter.

But, you have to get ready, every time.

Anyway....I took a picture for the 365.

A 'detail' of the front door wreath.

Just might leave this wreath up for a Winter Wreath.

It's not all that Holiday.

I added a quick border, from Pixlr.

Hey...so far I'm 4 for 4!

*****

'Til later...

Take care...

~~Linda~~

Wide Shots....January 2014...

Heather, over at
Xericstyle,
shows a Wide Shot of her

garden, every month.

It's a good idea.  Let's her document the progress...or not...of her garden.
Hers is doing great, by the way.

So, I'm going to play along.

3-365

When I go out for the paper, each morning, I go across the street and put our
neighbor's paper against his door.  He's had some health issues lately, and it's not
easy to get that paper, from his driveway.

So, this morning, I took my camera with me.
Above, is the view they have from their driveway.

Got most of the front in.

Just not the Drive Bed...
which looks ok, except for the Spanish Bayonet Yucca,
that the precious deer have ruined.

Closer, from the street, the
Island Bed
looks ok, for January.
A bit of color, from Yucca, Palm and Prickly Pear.
The Mexican Feathergrass will perk up in spring.

Another shot.
Looks cold, huh?  It was.

The New Front Bed is hanging in there.
After having to redo it, because of the flood, it's had a challenge.
Some plants washed away.  Others have been pulled up a few times....
precious deer, again.

And, speaking of precious critters....see what the Armadillos have done?
The least they could do, is dig up the rye grass that washed down from
the golf course.  They've turned the mulch, and underlying cardboard,
upside down.
Precious, indeed!

The New Side Area is doing ok.
We replaced the mulch here, too.  Still needs more...
and, the rye grass is really coming up well here, too.

This walkway needs some work.  We replaced most of the gravel mulch that
washed away.  But, it still needs a bit more.  It's covered with leaves right now.
Our son-in-law came down and swept off the roof, and cleaned the gutters.
My job is to do the rest.

After a cup of coffee, and warming up, I went out to the
Fenced Yard.
The sun was bright, and it had warmed up a bit.
Looks all green here.  There is some clean up of things that have frozen.
But, it's not too bad.

That's Trixie, one of our Grand-dogs.
She's Shih tzu and French Bulldog.
An interesting combination.

Did I mention it was cold this morning.
19F here at Patchwork Garden.  We live in a low spot.

But, cold is relative.  It's much colder in other places.

And, speaking of relatives...
our son took his family to New York City yesterday, for an after Christmas trip.
Good timing, huh?
But, they're enjoying it.  Central Texas folks don't see snow that often.

*****
Join us over at Heather's, to see more Wide Shots.

*****
'Til later...

Take care...
~~Linda~~

Words...

A lot of people choose to select a single 

Word,

instead of making New Year's resolutions.

I did that a couple years ago.

I chose FOCUS.

And, I did pretty well.

Last year, I didn't choose one.

I still did ok.

But, having that word did help, the year before.

So this year, I think I'll pick out a word again.

2-365

Maybe, my new dictionary will help.

Yes, I use a real, hold-in-your-hand dictionary.

And, I've been in dire need of a new one, for a while.

Santa was kind enough to tuck new one into my stocking.

I'm a bit loathe to get rid of the old one.

That's one of my big problems....

getting rid of things.

So, just maybe my WORD this year should be

SIMPLIFY.

There are lots of things around here that could be made more simple.

Plant more low maintenance plants in the garden.

Clear out things that are still good, but haven't been used/worn for years.

Organize, so I don't waste time searching for things.

DE-CLUTTER.

My new dictionary defines

SIMPLIFY

as 

MAKE EASY.

EASY sounds good to me.

Do you have a WORD?

*****

'Til later...

Take Care...

~~Linda~~