Random thoughts and photos for Thursday.

We've had thunder showers today and finally got some rain. Only 1/2 inch but better than none. Ebony, (who is deathly afraid of storms ever since Hurricane Claudette and the house falling on her), was trying to bust into the house this morning. Kind of scary when a 80lb shepherd is in a frenzy and beating against the doors...I finally managed to get to her before she attempted the front living room window...I made her go in her dog house and she's spent all day in it!

Michael and I were watching the deer in the driveway this morning when he spotted a cardinal in the Crape Myrtle...I think it is funny how he is starting to notice birds and things in nature in general...I took pictures of the deer and the cardinal but they didn't come out well. I then went outside and decided to play with the Super Macro on my camera and took photos of the water on the flowers in the garden.

Michael got it into his head this evening that he wanted to ride Julie. So we went outside and I put him on Julie and we went for a walk. It started raining so it was a short walk. I told Michael we'd do it again tomorrow and maybe I'll try for some photos! He loves being on Julie but doesn't ask to ride her much. I suppose horses aren't in his blood like they are mine because when I was his age I'd have been out there constantly trying to ride Julie :o) I so want to get him a pony, something his size! But Fred and I have made a pact...he can't have his bo-flex until we get our house built and I can't bring another equine home until the house is built...It is hard on both of us but we are sticking to it!! lol we have to keep reminding each other too!!

Storytime ~ Deer ~ Doves

One of the twin fawns.

Momma Doe (She thinks I can't see her, lol)

White-wing dove

Not much excitement today. We went to storytime at the library and Michael had a blast! He turned in his 3 hour reading sheet and recieved a Seahorse bookmark...We stayed at the library and read books for a bit then ran our errands. On the way home I went over to the property to check the Hog trap. It seems we caught a Hog last night but I took out the board at the front of the trap so the door would close right and the Hog dug out, grrr.....I'll keep trying and I will catch it!! I have to wait for Fred to come home so we can use the tractor and lift the trap and replace the board...I took a few photos of the fawns that are here at the house. I was shocked by how much they've grown...it's nice to see them still alive and I hope they make it to maturity...I also took some photos of white-wing doves...It seems we have quiet a few on the property and I'm really thankful Fred doesn't like hunting dove, I love my birds!

Adrenaline Rush

Broad-Banded Copperhead

(There are 4 different kinds of Copperheads in Texas)

We had a bit of excitement this morning. I was outside feeding the animals when I decided to water the plants. I asked Michael to turn the water tap on for me and as he reached over into the flowerbed to do it I saw this little beauty slither away from him...I am so thankful it slithered away from him! After putting Michael up on the bench on the porch I went and grabbed my camera, snake boots, and shovel...You know me I had to get a photo of it first and then take care of it...Michael was so good about staying on the bench! When I finally got the snake out on to the sidewalk he was like "WOW mom, it's huge"....I left it on the sidewalk (it wasn't going anywhere) while I finished watering...and Michael kept yelling at me from the bench it's moving...lol...I told him that Mommy broke the snake and he could only move his head...I hope and pray that I have taught him to stay away from snakes and to come get Momma if he should see one....I tell him which ones are good and bad but don't think he's old enough to recognize them yet!! Well off to finish my morning chores...now to go check the Hog trap...yes we have another Hog on the property and have re-set the trap....

June 17th Fathers Day

San Antonio River

Tuddy (Fred jr.) bbq'ing

Turks Cap also known as a Red Mallow

My Daddy and I love him!

Tuddy and Michael headed to the River for a look see! Michael would not let me fold his socks down today! He said he wanted to look like Daddy, lol. It's a family joke that when Fred was little he always wore knee highs no matter what he had on....Like Father, Like son!! Guess it's in Michaels gene's to do the same. Everyone got a good laugh out of it today!

One of the Mules on the property, actually this one is the Jack! I love them ears!

Leather Flower

Michael giving me a Great Pose, for once!! YES!! LOL

Orange Giant Sulpher Butterflies on the bank of the River. Fred would not let me go down the bank to get a closer shot, grrr.....

A dead Polyphemus Moth that Michael found on the ground. He was ever so gentle with it when he brought it to me! My sweet boy is learning!

Fred got up bright and early and left to go to his Mother and Dad's ranch to start bbq'ing for his Father and anyone that showed up. He came back and got us at about noon and we went over there to eat...When we were done eating Michael wanted to go for a ride on the 4-wheel mule and Fred wouldn't let me go alone...lol...he knew if Michael and I went alone I'd get pre-occupied with taking photos and be hours....(not me?)....Well here are the photos from our trip to the Ranch....The nature ones aren't to great as Fred (Tuddy) is not very patient and was constantly on me about hurrying....I so want to get another try at a Turks cap...the Leather flower I thought was beautiful and so delicate, it reminded me of an orchid...Hope you enjoy and thank you for stopping by...

Saturday

Not an exciting day but a busy day!! I made breakfast and then bathed all the animals...that is a chore...and I mean all the animals except for the bird and fish...lol...The Fred decided he wanted to go down and work on a disc he recently acquired, ugh!! I went with the intentions of helping but was side-tracked by the camera, Oops!! I had made it to the back pasture when I heard Hubby yelling for me, ekkk...lol...it's not the first time I've wandered off with the camera while I was supposed to be helping, you'd really think he'd get used to it...We went to town later to cool off and do some shopping in a/c and eat dinner and had a relaxing evening...Fred watching movies, Michael playing and Momma getting packages ready to mail and of course sitting here on the computer...

I hope you all enjoy the photos I took today...it was very Hot and Muggy with a few thunder showers passing through....I don't even think we got 1/10th of an inch of rain...boohoo...we could really use some moisture...just love for it to be more humid than it already is :)

After much thought...

After much thought, talking with my husband and advice and an informative site from my friend Helen...

http://www.paulsadlerswimland.com/programs/index.php?id_area=0&id_location=9

And asking Michael if he wanted to go to swim lessons today, which was a very loud NO! I decided I would not put my son through swim lessons today!
I want him to enjoy swimming and water and not be afraid of it....To make up for yesterday I took him to a local water park and the first 45 minutes were tough for Michael, he was definitely afraid. But I kept encouraging him and letting him pretty much go at his own pace he calmed down and was playing. We floated the river and I even managed to get him to put his head under water a few times...lol...Of course Mommy had to do it too!! He was swimming for me while I held him and did really well. I think the positive day at Splashway made up for the negative effects of swimming lessons yesterday. I know I feel better! It's tough being a Mom and making the calls. I think a lot of it is instinct and we need to rely on our instinct more instead of what other people think! With input from my friend Helen, Husband and even Grandma I made the right decision!!
So today was a positive day compared to yesterday and a great lesson was learned!!

Swimming Lessons

I'm not sure where to begin, as some of you know Michael started his first swimming lesson today...I was told to be at the pool by 9:15 and showed up right at 9:15 and the class was already in session...was a bit peeved with that...so I more or less had to push Michael right into the group instead of giving him time to warm up to everyone...He was not happy....I sat with him for a minute and he was becoming more argumentative so I asked the instructor if I should just leave...she told me it was up to me...I left...it was so darned hard...specially when you can hear your child crying and sobbing for you....I stayed in the wait area where he couldn't see me and watched....I was a little stunned as they basically at some point just throw the kids in the water, no warning or anything....Michael hated it!! Finally after about 20 minutes I quietly slid back in by the pool and sat down...He didn't see me for awhile and then when he did see me he wasn't to bad...He was still pissed about being dunked and I don't blame him....I kept my mouth shut...He didn't seem overly stressed out but he told me he did NOT want to go back tomorrow...sigh! Later he said he had fun but still didn't want to go back...I'll take him tomorrow and see what happens...When I took him to splashway last week he was putting his head under water on his own and was okay with it, I'm just wondering with these dunkings if this is going to make him afraid of the water....I know some of you have had experience with swimming lessons and little ones...do they normally dunk them? I just thought for the first day they were a bit aggressive with the kids instead of letting them take this first time to get used to the water and being in the big kid pool...and learning how to kick....I took a few photos but they aren't very good. The girl holding Michael is one of the teenage life guards helping out with the class. She had to hold Michael the whole time because if they had put him on the edge of the pool he would have ran....lol....I feel like a Momma bird pushing her fledgling out of the nest....ugh!