Over two months ago, my post on this blog mentioned that one of our cats had disappeared, without a trace. She was an indoor cat, never wanted to go outside, and as the weeks went by, we could only hope that she she had found a new home. But one night about 2 weeks ago, I thought I saw a black and white cat that looked like her on our front porch. As soon as I opened the door, however, the cat vanished into the night. A few days after that, the gray and white cat, Angel, was on our back porch and when I went to the door to let her in, there was Bella. I was sure it was her, but she dashed to the side yard and hid. After an hour or so of a reverse sort of "cat and mouse," Joe coaxed her inside where she promptly needed to assert her territory by hissing and spitting at Angel, who by now must have been completely confused. We had several days of War of the Cats, but as you can see, they are now peacefully claiming their share of Joe's chair. I guess we will never know where Bella was for the two months she was missing, but sometimes she looks at me with those big golden eyes and I think for just a moment she is going to tell me!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
July 4, 2013
When all is said and done, the real citadel of strength of any community is in the hearts and minds and desires of those who dwell there.
Everett Dirksen
Monday, July 1, 2013
Texas Summer
Summer on the Texas Gulf Coast does not wait for the calendar to mark the solstice. By late May and early June, we experience burning heat, sprinklers on the lawn, homegrown tomatoes and hot peppers, katydids singing in the evenings, Crepe Myrtles and Chaste Trees blooming, suppers from the grill, iced tea, cold watermelon, bees buzzing around the basil. The Touch Me Not seeds are popping, Morning Glories are purple delights, roses slowing down for a second breath, and there are a hundred shades of green. I may complain about being hot, but I love so many things that summer brings.
For Memorial and Independence Day celebrations, we get the little flags back out to line the sidewalk, and celebrate birthdays for Joe and Ben. July brings a bumper crop of figs on our tree, Vacation Bible School fun, plans with my granddaughters, and family outings. It will get hotter, and we will watch the hurricane tracking news. We keep ceiling fans whirring and add a buzz fan or two for the back porch. I am thankful for cool evening breezes wafting scent of honeysuckle and cooling the flagstone paths in our garden.
Summertime!
"Now summer is in flower and natures hum
Is never silent round her sultry bloom
Insects as small as dust are never done
Wi' glittering dance and reeling in the sun
And green wood fly and blossom haunting bee
Are never weary of their melody
Round field hedge now flowers in full glory twine
Large bindweed bells wild hop and streakd woodbine
That lift athirst their slender throated flowers
Agape for dew falls and for honey showers
These round each bush in sweet disorder run
And spread their wild hues to the sultry sun."
- John Clare, "June"
For Memorial and Independence Day celebrations, we get the little flags back out to line the sidewalk, and celebrate birthdays for Joe and Ben. July brings a bumper crop of figs on our tree, Vacation Bible School fun, plans with my granddaughters, and family outings. It will get hotter, and we will watch the hurricane tracking news. We keep ceiling fans whirring and add a buzz fan or two for the back porch. I am thankful for cool evening breezes wafting scent of honeysuckle and cooling the flagstone paths in our garden.
Summertime!
"Now summer is in flower and natures hum
Is never silent round her sultry bloom
Insects as small as dust are never done
Wi' glittering dance and reeling in the sun
And green wood fly and blossom haunting bee
Are never weary of their melody
Round field hedge now flowers in full glory twine
Large bindweed bells wild hop and streakd woodbine
That lift athirst their slender throated flowers
Agape for dew falls and for honey showers
These round each bush in sweet disorder run
And spread their wild hues to the sultry sun."
- John Clare, "June"
Labels:
boys Texas,
family,
garden,
holiday celebrations,
peppers,
summertime,
touch-me-nots,
trees,
watermelon
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Stained Glass
We have several pieces of stained glass hanging in the windows of our home. This is my favorite, because Joe made it many years ago. I love the way light brings the designs in leaded glass to life, changing as the day progresses and light falls in different places. I, love the glowing colors and flowing designs. After many years of absence from the art of cutting glass, fitting lead or copper around sharp edges, and soldering pieces together in a beautiful puzzle assembly, Joe has decided to take up his soldering iron and work again. I am looking forward to the pieces he will choose to create. But most of all I look forward to the joy it brings him, the artist!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Nana's Doll
Nana's Doll
When she was a little girl
my mother was proud
of a doll whose smooth porcelain face
shone pinkly beneath her chestnut curls
twinkling blue eyes that went to sleep
when Opal laid her
down
Dressed in rosy dimity
dainty with a fine lace peplum
her bonnet matched
Modesty satisfied, her sheer skirt
hid crochet- edged petticoats
and pantaloons
Tiny socks and shoes, a precious
embroidered velvet pouch
on a chain to hang on her wrist.
When I was a little girl
the doll lay in what was left of her box
wrapped in an old white sheet
stored in Mother's quilt chest
I begged to see her, fascinated
by her age and her
outfits
oh, so many!
handmade by Grandma
Terrell
and Great Grandmother Curley,
my French great grandmother.
full length coat with buttons
made of blue twill and paneled -
soft pink rose patterned percale.
folded in neat stacks: print dresses, tucked bodices,
gathered skirts,
nightgowns, a cap and a blanket
all discolored by age and smoke
from a family house
fire.
Why didn't I ask her name?
When my granddaughters ask
to see the doll, they are intrigued
with the story, awed
at how old she is
They feel sorry that she lives in a box
I am glad no one asks her name
but I am trying to follow instructions
written in flowing pencil script
on the tattered piece from her first box:
“Take Care of Her”
Santa Claus
Labels:
dolls,
girls,
granddaughters,
grandmothers,
handwritten,
vintage dolls
Friday, June 14, 2013
Ladies Day at the Spa
When any one of my granddaughters is here, we have fun. But when all 3 of the younger girls get together, there is never a dull moment. I may leave a few prompts or props for them to find (new stuff in the dressup trunk, empty boxes, beads and shells with the art supplies, and plenty of fresh fruit and veggies for creating snacks), but the ways they come up with to use those things never fail to keep me laughing.
Last weekend we were grateful for heavy afternoon rains on both days. But climbing trees and dancing in the rain changed to indoor play when thunder and lightning deemed it necessary. Undaunted, they retired to the bedroom where the dressup supplies are kept. A few minutes later, when I checked on them, I found Skye with her turban wrap reclining on the chaise lounge and was told they were having a Spa day! Furthermore, they needed cucumber slices for their eyes. What's a grandmother to do but slice up a garden fresh cucumber and deliver?
Maddie and Jordann added their veggie beauty aid and lounged on a mountain of pillows.
But apparently the under 10 set does not require lengthy lounging. In fact, it makes them hungry!
So they ate their cucumbers, which probably beat anything else for a refreshing treatment!
I love being a grandmother! Who needs a day at a real Spa? I don't need cucumbers to make me glow!
Last weekend we were grateful for heavy afternoon rains on both days. But climbing trees and dancing in the rain changed to indoor play when thunder and lightning deemed it necessary. Undaunted, they retired to the bedroom where the dressup supplies are kept. A few minutes later, when I checked on them, I found Skye with her turban wrap reclining on the chaise lounge and was told they were having a Spa day! Furthermore, they needed cucumber slices for their eyes. What's a grandmother to do but slice up a garden fresh cucumber and deliver?
Maddie and Jordann added their veggie beauty aid and lounged on a mountain of pillows.
But apparently the under 10 set does not require lengthy lounging. In fact, it makes them hungry!
So they ate their cucumbers, which probably beat anything else for a refreshing treatment!
I love being a grandmother! Who needs a day at a real Spa? I don't need cucumbers to make me glow!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Tea Parties
This tiny china tea set has been mine since I was a little girl. I don't remember when I got it,but most likely it was a birthday gift or a Christmas present. My granddaughters have loved using the tea set for birthday tea, princess tea, and tea parties for no special reason at all other than our delight in each other. Lauren wrote invitations to the little girls next door and we set Grandma's table with a cloth, made tea sandwiches and cookies and poured tea out of a teapot. Skye has had countless tea parties with me, her PapaJoe, her Duckle Ben, and her best friend Anna. Maddie has tea parties when she comes to stay, and Jordann has tea parties with her sister and cousin now. I was proud that Maddie wanted her 7th birthday party to be a family tea party! (See post for March 21)
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