Watercolor by Michael ~ Digital

Michael wanted to paint with watercolors the other evening and this is one of our favorite pieces of art from that session. I loved it as he even got Daddys hair right...flat top and brown!! Just maybe he has his Momma's artistic abilities, just maybe :o)

And I see I need to get glasses as when I posted this and clicked on it to enlarge the digital layout there was a giant boo-boo but I'm not telling, lol...I saved it and will fix it later, lol

Hmmm...what do we have here?

I went to check our mail today and was looking out towards the property, that we plan to build a house on, and lo and behold there are some bovines staring back at me, EKKK!!

We don't have cows down there...but we do NOW!!

I drove in and got out and walked over to them...at first all I saw were two cows. Then I noticed the tiger-striped cow had an udder, which means she has a calf! All of a sudden this calf pops out of the tall grass...Hey little one!!

He took one look at me and ran, lol...guess I don't look so hot in the morning!!

Then his Momma followed him! I called Fred and told him "you know how you wanted some cows on the property? Well you have 2 cows and a calf at the moment!!

Tiger-striped with calf, before he ran!

Jersey mix...
She just stood there for awhile staring at me...Then she would look off to where the other two ran and then would look back to me...She finally decided I wasn't too pretty in the mornings either and ran to catch up to her bovine buddies!!

I called the sheriff's dept. from two different counties, as we are right on the county line. They took my name and number but said no one had reported any missing cows...And the way some people ranch down here it may be months before anyone notices they are missing cows...They bring their cows out to their properties and might check on them once a month and sometimes not for months...Not good ranching to me!! So I didn't put the fence back up and maybe the bovines will go back to where they belong! Then again maybe they'll stick around and we'll have two cows and a calf!


On the drive back to the house I had to stop in the road because a herd of about 20 deer were crossing it...I sat there and watched them and just as the last one was crossing the road I thought hey fool you have a camera with you....LOL...I got one photo of the last doe jumping the fence! To bad I didn't wake up a little sooner...It was sunny today and a bit cool but all the animals and birds seemed to enjoy it...Glad I decided to take the camera out today!

~Birds~

Yes I am going to bore you with more S. Texas bird photos!! I just keep trying for that perfect photo but haven't gotten it yet...The birds have been out in force at the feeders and I love watching them...I think it's also time to try a different lens as the telephoto just has too much color distortion...

The Tufted Titmouses are getting used to me and the camera!

Female Northern Cardinal.

Carolina Chickadee.

I'm really working on getting a better photo but these Chickadee's are very shy and timid...be prepared to see more photos!!

What do you call a group of Goldfinches? A flock...I think gaggle sounds better as in a gaggle of geese...I have a gaggle of goldfinches!!

Killdeer...Michael (for some reason) calls them "Fat Birds"...lol

I took all of these from the truck today...I use it for my bird-blind as the birds aren't afraid of it and let me get up a bit closer with it...Michael was with me when I took photos of his "Fat Birds"...When we come from school he loves to stop in the driveway and watch them out in the pasture...and then when we pull up to the house we have to sit and watch the birds at the feeders for a bit too...I have learned never to be in a hurry when we come home from school...It's our time to un-wind together and I am glad my son is taking an interest in the birds!

Hey diddle diddle,

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon;

The little dog laughed to see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

(Just for your information the Moon is at it's closest orbit to earth tonight)

To listen to stars and birds,

To babes and sages,

With open heart...

This is to be my Symphony.

~William Henry Channing~

Mockingbird

Tufted Titmouse ~ Chipping Sparrow ~ American Goldfinch

Tufted Titmouse ~ American Goldfinch

Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrows

Brrrrr little Hummer!

Yes I live in S. Texas but I am telling you it is Cold....40 degrees F. (5 C.) and I know you people in the North are laughing at me and saying "Girl that isn't cold" but it is...lol...The feels like temp is 31 degrees F. and the wind chill is 28 degrees F.....I am telling you it's COLD!!

What is funny is Grammie is coming down here soon to get away from the cold, ha ha ha...Of course to her this will feel like summer I am sure...but wait until she feels that wind, ekk!!

I was on a mission this morning as I knew that little Hummingbird was and is still here...I wanted a photo...Just never thought to see a Hummingbird stick around this winter...personally I think he's crazy...I think being with family in S. America would be much better than flying around here freezing your tail off...silly bird!!

But my patience was rewarded and he came in for a feeding, of course fresh warm nectar might have something to do with that...kind of like us with a cuppa tea or coffee on a brisk morning...I am sitting at my desk and I can hear him out there chirping! He's sticking close to that feeder today and probably swearing because he didn't fly South with the rest of the family!!

I am thinking this is either a female or immature Buff-Bellied Hummer (but don't quote me on that!)

Now to go warm myself up with a nice cuppa tea!!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot!

I decided if I was going to get any Christmas Cards sent out with photos I had best get busy this afternoon!! Michael was bribed with brownies after dinner and Jake...well Jake was not cooperating and no doggie treats in the house to help either, Yikes!! Below is what I came up with and for those photography wise persons I used the Macro lens.

Fred liked this one.

I loved this one!

My boys being silly!


Awww Best Buddies...I doubt Jake is thinking that, lol....

If time allows I'll try for some more later...

It seems as though someone was given an award last Friday and I didn't have a clue until today when he handed it to me after school! YEA!! MICHAEL...I am so PROUD of you!

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Entomology Lesson for the week

From what I can tell this little beaut is called a casebearing moth. He's been on a plant on our porch for quiet sometime. To find out exactly what these little insects are click here.

The case is constructed by the the earliest larval stage (1st instar) before it hatches, and is enlarged by each successive instar. In constructing the case, the larva secretes silk to build an arch attached at both ends to the substrate. Very small particles of sand, soil, iron rust, insect droppings, arthropod remains, hairs and other fibers are added on the outside. The inside of the arch is lined exclusively by silk, and is gradually extended to form a tunnel, while the larva stays inside. The tunnel is closed beneath by the larva to form a tube free from the substrate, and open at both ends. After the first case is completed, the larva starts moving around, pulling its case behind. With each molt, the larva enlarges its case. Later cases are flattened and widest in the middle, allowing the larva to turn around inside. A fully developed larva has a case 8 to 14 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide.

I've always been fascinated by these insects due to the hodge-podge of material on it's back...

Experiencing the solitude that nature provides is a form of

meditation that calms the soul and purges the stress from your life.

~ Sheri McConnell~

Happy Birthday Fred!!

This weekend I had planned a special surprise for my husband...

A birthday party and he didn't have a clue!!

I was so tickled that we pulled it off!

The birthday boy with his cake...(thank you Helen for making it)

Fred with his parents.

Michael, Ashley, Zeke, Carolina and little one.

There are more birthday party photos on my flickr site.

Goliad Christmas Parade 2008

I started a tradition with my son when he was about 2 yrs old and we go to the Goliad Christmas Parade every year. It is a small town parade but they do a wonderful job. This year it was a bit chilly and we had to dress up warm but it made it even better!



Helen and Ashley came with us this year and they both really enjoyed it. Aunt Diana and Zeke joined us too and brought hot cocoa to share...as you can see above Ashley was enjoying it!

Michael has to have his sausage on a stick...it just wouldn't be a celebration without it!

The Courthouse clock says 7:00 PM time for the Parade to begin.

I loved the way I captured the John Deere Tractor above...

I didn't notice this horse and rider were decked out in a Dallas Cowboy Theme until I got home and looked at the photos, cool.

I was playing with the camera and loved how the lights came out on this float.

And of course lets not forget Santa Claus...


We had a really Great time and if you would like to see all the photos you can go to my flickr site.