They're BACK.........

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When I walked outside this morning to feed everyone I got buzzed...and buzzed and buzzed again...The hummingbirds are (what I call) swarming...or as others would say starting their annual migration south...I've had hummers all summer and the buffbellied that stayed last winter is still here but now there are quiet a few more...After I finished my morning chores I sat outside with the camera just amazed...now mind you there are only about 10 to 15 of the little buggers at the moment and they are full of it!! When I start getting 20 to 30 I'll get the video camera out...

I also had the female painted bunting come in for her morning feed but no photo as she was really quiet shy and when she noticed me she was gone, Poof! Then I happened to look over on the fence and the Inca (Mexican) Dove was stretched out sunning himself...Ahh! His mate was not around and I think she might be sitting on a nest. I saw her for a few moments this evening.

Most of the hummingbirds I saw this morning are immature (babies)...We had Black-chinned, Ruby throats and Buff-Bellied. I would love to see some other different species but so far that is all I've seen here at the house. They came at about the same time last year, which to me is quiet early...So I wonder if winter is going to be early and hard, Ekkk...We'll have to wait and see when the hawks come through...

Dacey...She's 8 and she's GREAT!

I saw this photo that Dawn had taken of Dacey with her clown nose and the wheels in my brain started turning...Then I came up with that great little rhyme and the rest was history :o)

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We love you Dacey!

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Credits:

Template (freebie) designed by ChrissyW

Embellishments & some of the papers from a kit called Clowns designed by KStew

Other papers were designed by KLewis (Breathe) and Melc (sweetpie)

and even more Papers from Jen at Jencropable called BabyBlue

Heart designed by ELash.

It's raining, It's pouring....

YES!

It's actually RAINING!!

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I have been watching the radar since about 7pm and saw these beautiful, awesome storms building up to our West and NorthWest...at 8:53 PM I took another glimpse of the radar and there were storms and rain all around us and on the radar screen there was one itty bitty white patch with no rain and that was US!! Talk about frustrating...

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I had the camera on the front porch and was snapping photos of the clouds as they rolled in...

One of my favorites...isn't it awesome?

I caught one lightening bolt off in the distance, Sweet!!

Hey Mommy when I grow up I want to be a storm chaser and take photos of the pretty clouds and lightening!! LOL...
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Finally the good Lord decided to bless us and it rained and it's still raining at 11:30pm, YeeHaw!!

We are up to 1 inch of rain on the rain gauge, it's slowing down a bit...Not too much but better than none...I am so excited it's been quiet awhile since we've had any and hopefully we'll continue to get some and things will green up a bit before winter hits. Julie would so love to have some green grass to eat!!

Images from today...

Michael and I went down to the property to mow dead crunchy weeds down and water the only 2 remaining Oak trees (out of the 5 I planted). It was HOT and DUSTY and I didn't take any photos while we were there as I was trying to hurry and get back to the house and the nice COOL a/c, lol...

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But as I was coming up the driveway I noticed the Prickly Pear Cactus had Tuna's. I got Michael's permission (ha ha ha) to stop and take a few photos...The Tuna's are the cacti fruit and can be eaten, YUCK!! Yes I tried one before when it was fully ripe and it's an acquired taste I suppose! They make jellys out of it and all sorts of animals and birds eat it too!

These are not fully ripe yet but still pretty enough for a photo!

Then I saw this little guy on my Mexican fire bush...Blister beetle (I think?) or is it stink bug? I do know that you DO NOT TOUCH! LOL...

And here's a little monster eating the leaves on the White Oak tree I planted at the house, ARGH!


And another FURRY monster who seems to have taken over Jake's bed...Poor Jake!!

Hey KitCat it's a DOG bed...not a cat bed! Sheesh!

Good thing Jake loves you :o)

So glad your comfy and we hope you have a good nap!

Michael at 6 (well almost)

I saw this template by Ali Edwards and thought hey I can do that, well maybe not as good as I am not a professional designer but still you get the idea...I thought it would be perfect for creating a digi layout of Michael and what he likes at age 6...8 more days to go until his birthday and he's so excited! We had to cancel our Family Celebration of August Birthdays but I am hoping on his birthday that he and I can do our own celebrating! A little trip to an amusement center and of course a birthday cake with lots and lots of frosting.

Credits:

Template designed by me :o)

Papers and embellishments from a kit called "boys retreat" designed by Catherine designs at www.afterfivedesigns.com

Word text path designed by Taylormade called "stay on the path"

Stitches designed by natali

Whats in your garden?

I was outside watering this morning and decided to grab the macro as I saw Momma Anole lizard and the baby anole lizard...

My boganvilla is just gorgeous and loving the S. Texas blast furnace...

The toads were having fun too!! Normally they hide in the dirt during the day but this morning they were all out and about in the flower gardens...

I sprayed the wild mums with water and I spotted Momma Anole lizard. She was lapping up the water droplets on the leaves. I went and grabbed the camera and she didn't seem to mind the Macro lens stuck in her face, lol...I love how clear and crisp her eye is...I used the on camera flash as I didn't have time to put the ring flash on...You can click on this photo to bring it up a bit larger and get a better look...I also spotted the baby anole lizard on the Aloe plants but couldn't find him/her after I had the camera...to bad they wouldn't pose together, LOL...I wonder if Momma anole lizards eat baby anole lizards...Ekkkk

I took this one so I could use the bricks for size reference...


Then I spotted this grasshopper chomping away at the wild mum leaves, grr....

I think my garden is the only green spot in this area...now lets just hope the snakes don't find it as it seems the anole lizards, toads, grasshoppers are moving in and bigger predators are never too far away...

I did spot a couple of hawks flying around today...one was a red-tailed and the other a grey hawk. I was busy helping or bugging the a/c guy so I didn't grab the camera...Yes we have a new unit and I have cool...oh sooo cool air in the house...I'm loving it and so thankful for a/c! The temp this afternoon at 5:30 was 104 F. outside, UGH!

Jake is a very happy dog...

I would like y'all to keep my Father in Law in your prayers too...He's having some health problems and sure could use some prayers!

Osprey

Today Michael and I had to make a little trip to Corpus. As always, I took the camera but honestly it was so darn hot that I didn't stop anywhere...that is until we were coming through Bayside and I spotted this guy sitting on the electric wires...It's been awhile since I've seen an Osprey sitting there but it's where I usually see them when I do...I kept on driving and then I thought aww heck...I whipped the truck around and went back for some photos!! Michael was playing with his vtech and was otherwise occupied so he was okay with me taking a few minutes to try for a decent photo...YEA!!

I didn't want to frighten this big guy away so I carefully inched as close as I could...and these were the best photos out of the bunch...Not the greatest but still pretty cool...

Look at how HUGE his legs are and the talons...definitely a fisherman! And the hooked beak, Yikes!! Now if I was a fish I'd be quivering...

Uh Oh I've been spotted, lol...love how the wind caught his head feathers and ruffled them!!

He was beautiful and he was glaring at me...find your own fishing hole! I backed off before I thought he might fly...I didn't want to disturb him and his fishing!

Eye Opener....

I want to say right off that Fred and I don't have the perfect marriage and sometimes a little help is needed...

I knew of one friend who said she had the perfect marriage and me being young and naive I believed her...2 yrs later she was divorced...Talk about a wake up call...I was devastated! I found out right then and there that there is no such thing as the perfect marriage but there are things you can do to make it better!

Now I am on my second marriage and this one is 100% better than the first marriage, heck it's 200% better, lol...I love Fred and I want to make this marriage a good one...I want us to be Happy! But lately it seemed as neither Fred nor I were happy...I was worried...where was this going?

A few weeks ago I was talking to a girlfriend who is working at making her marriage better and she suggested this book "The proper care and feeding of husbands". I am NOT into self help books...find them normally quiet boring but this book was good! I admit I needed help as I was having a hard time understanding why Fred had changed from the first few years we were married...

I wanted the man I married back...

he laughed,

he was happy

we loved being together...

Now mind you this book will not help marriages where there is abuse, or where drugs and alcohol are the problem. But it will help woman in most marriages with what they can do to make things better.

IT WAS AN EYE OPENER...

As I read this book I learned there were things about myself I needed to change...I was amazed at how it wasn't Fred but me that needed work, lol, Surprise Surprise!!...Fred works hard for our family and I need to appreciate that and show him how much I appreciate that (Which I thought I did, but obviously NOT enough)...My actions and behavior needed to change...I woke up and realized that I have a job to do and yes it is a hard job at times and sometimes I'm Hot and Tired and I don't want too...but there are times when I am sure Fred doesn't want to go to work but he does...

So I've been working at being positive, Not telling him all my problems or gripes, which he really does NOT want to hear after working all day, giving him some down time after work to relax and unwind, listening to him when he talks to me, having dinner ready when he gets home. Doing little things around the house for him that he likes...making sure the bed is made, everything is dusted, etc, etc, etc...

I think you get the picture...I highly recommend every woman I know reads this book...even if you are having no problems (yea right!) in your marriage...read this book...even if you are not married but just in a relationship...read this book...Heck even if you are single...read this book...Just listen to me...READ THIS BOOK!!

It will open your eyes up and hopefully you'll have a better understanding of yourself and what Men want!!

As to Fred and I...I think it is helping me, us, our relationship...things are a bit more relaxed and easy going and I like that :o)

My attitude has changed and my husband is no. 1 and I do my best to treat him with the respect he deserves...this isn't an overnight success story...I still mess up...yes I do...but I am working at it!

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Now you don't have to go buy this book but go to the library and check it out!! Let me know what you think!

No Fun!!!!

Here we sit the temperature outside is 107 degrees F. and our air/conditioning has decided it has had enough, ARGH!! I'm grouchy and hot and praying that the a/c guy can come out tomorrow and have a look see...hopefully it just needs to be charged as the unit was just put in last year...We've got all the fans going in the house and the a/c has been running constantly...last time I looked it was 83 in the house and climbing...Yikes...

We did have a good laugh earlier...We were saying our goodbyes to Fred when Michael said "Look at Jake"...LOL...Jake had taken up residence in front of one of the fans...He's NOT a stupid dog!!