What an afternoon! We have checked on our friends in Arlington which got some of the worst damage and they are fine. Thanks for checking in on us and please keep praying for those who were seriously impacted!
More pictures here.
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
We are OK...
... just a little dinged up... Husband's car, that is. : (
What an afternoon! We have checked on our friends in Arlington which got some of the worst damage and they are fine. Thanks for checking in on us and please keep praying for those who were seriously impacted!
More pictures here.
What an afternoon! We have checked on our friends in Arlington which got some of the worst damage and they are fine. Thanks for checking in on us and please keep praying for those who were seriously impacted!
More pictures here.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The Amarillo Armadillo
Armadillo in a ball, there's gonna be an early fall.
Hit by a Hummer? Well... six more weeks of summer!
They believed him for a split second. Do you think the heat has gone to our heads? : )
Actually, we were some of the lucky few who saw showers yesterday. So, some real time singing and dancing in the rain was in order...
My camera lens kept fogging up after a few minutes of snapping pictures... it was that steamy outside, like a hot shower. I think the heat index was 106 when this little sun shower started.
Stay cool y'all!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Whaaaaaaaa?
It's the first day of May and we are scrounging for longsleeves and jeans.
It's beautiful... but it's weird.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
More Signs of Spring
No colors were tampered with in the displaying of these photos.
These are the colors He paints with.
These are the colors He paints with.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Day 4
 |
| (I wish I knew who created this so I could give them credit. I found it on FB via Roger D.) |
I'm done. Yes, the snow is lovely, I'm sure. I can't tell you right now, because I can't even look out my windows anymore. I'm done! Even people in town from Wisconsin are saying it's awful out there. I'm burying my head in a blanket and I refuse to come out until it's above freezing again and I know that if I need to leave my house, I can. Then, I'll be sane again. I think.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Two guys with shovels
A friend in the Midwest posted on FB that one day after the "blizzard of the Century" they were already dug out and back in business. That just goes to show you how efficient people can be when they are prepared for this kind of weather. For those of us in parts of the world where sustained conditions like this...
...will only be a twice or thrice in a lifetime occurrence, our efficiency isn't so stunning.
After calling the city on this the third morning of the ice storm, they finally sent out a "sanding truck" to our hilly neighborhood...
Two guys with shovels in a dump truck tossing sand! Yup. That's how we do it in Texas. That is all ice out there too, not slush.
BTW... I took this picture of one of the major thoroughfares after hiking to the end of our neighborhood. They haven't even made it to our street/hill yet! I guess when you don't live next to any Super Bowl venues, you just don't count!
P.S. Our neighborhood used to be a drag strip before it was a neighborhood and we live on what was called "Shut Down Hill". That means we live on the hill where the racers used gravity to help slow down. That's not working too good for us right now!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
M&M Math
...in sweats and a bathrobe. This is what a snow day looks like here!
BTW: That's my coffee mug, not his. :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Speaking of Texas History...
 |
| Matagorda Bay from space |
Yep. That's my Sunshine!
Go ahead. Say it out loud. You know you want to!
P.S. Here's a link for all you link lovers to a photo gallery by Tracy Johnson that includes a gorgeous picture of a Matagorda Bay sunset.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Somehow or other, it came just the same.
It wasn't the Christmas I expected. I'll even dare to say... wanted. But Christmas it was.
We planned and prepared all Advent long. We worked toward and fought against and waited in joyful hope. And then... the Grinch with his bony fingers and sneering face came and took it all away. That's how it felt. So there was a choice to be made. I could pout and cry and scream Boo Hoo... or I could hold my family and sing. We tried to sing. Squeaky, small voices, weary and battered. We tried.
We planned to go to our regular, beautiful, quiet, least crowded Mass on Christmas morning. Christmas morning at the Abbey with all of the monks we love, sleepy though they be from Midnight Mass before (which begins at midnight, of course!). It's warm and happy. No rushing around, no squeezing in. But Old Man Winter had a different plan. After seeing the weather forecast we knew our plans would need to change. We looked at the Mass schedule for the church closest by that required no bridges, no overpasses to travel over. 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. We were watching the roads carefully as our guests were still on their way. Yes, our guests! My father and his wife we coming to spend the night with us and the road conditions were making their 4 hour trip stretch into more. We missed the 4pm Mass.
We gave up hope of going to church with our loved ones still crawling toward us and thought we could try for the 6 by ourselves. Husband decided to test the roads alone first. He made it about 5 blocks before having to turn around. The wind and blowing snow made visibility none existent.
We tried again for 8 hoping that the winds might have calmed down enough. They hadn't. 40 mph with 60 mph gusts. That's a blizzard isn't it? This time, he made it only a few blocks before almost colliding with someone sliding through a four way stop. Neither of them could stop but thankfully, there was space between them.
At 9:30pm, my father finally arrived in his diesel truck with monster tires and 4 wheel drive. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT," he commanded. Very seldom have I seen my father afraid of the road. His face was as white as the snow still whipping around us.
4, 6, 8, 10 or midnight had been our goal. We gave up the hope of welcoming Our Lord that night and went to sleep on a saggy air mattress in the spare room hoping that by unexpectedtly giving our bed to the guests who couldn't make it to the Holiday Inn, we might all be able to meet at the stable in the morning. 10pm or noon was our new wish.
Before 10 the next morning, Husband climbed into the cab of the mighty machine with 4 wheel drive and locking hubs and held on as my father who has never caved to elements before tried to travel the distance between us and our hope. He got stuck at the bottom of the driveway. The hill in front of our house was a sheet of ice. Our hope for 10 was gone.
12 o'clock was our last chance. Spanish Mass! We didn't care! We were going to be there!!! Once more, 2 Dads ventured out hoping to blaze the trail for us and came back defeated. The tall trees we love to gaze upon as fall changes to winter and then bursts into spring were holding the sun back, keeping the hill and streets shaded from the sun's warm fingers. We desperately longed for the Son, but would have to be content with "Not this year."
Now, for those of you reading this in places that are used to the cold and fluffy white bounty of winter, let me just explain... our only shovel is pointed and does a wonderful job digging holes. Salt? Why yes, there is a sweet little girl holding an umbrella on this container right here. Is that enough? Sand? We like it on our beaches very much, why would we keep some in the garage? The weather men were reporting that this kind of weather has negatively impacted Christmas Eve and Day travel only 12 times in the last 168 years. This is Texas after all!
Around 2pm, the temperature was warm enough to turn the ice to slush, but there was no Mass to be found. Or so we thought.
My BIL called and mentioned that they were heading out to the Latin Mass. Latin Mass? LATIN MASS!!! We haven't been in years, but we could make it. Our guests had left and everyone was still in the beautiful clothes I made them put on 8 o'clock that morning, just in case! We piled in the car, crunching over the once treacherous glaze with relative ease. Over bridge, over ramp, we made it with time to spare! We sat, happy and warm in an unfamiliar church, waiting for an unfamiliar Mass, but all expecting that very familiar person we had come to see. Him. He was coming. We had made it.
As the voices of the choir gently drifted down from the loft above sweetly singing of angels, I wanted to spend the next half hour in prayer thanking God and waiting for Mass to begin. I fiddled for my rosary and looked over at my beautiful family. Shortcake was crying. Huh? Husband took her to the back to find out what was wrong. Just a little over tired, for sure!
They were back. He nodded his head reassuringly. She was fine. The choir was on to another hymn. BigBoy was playing with my rosary pouch. Shortcake burst into tears again. This time, I took her back. Calm words, comforting hugs. She is my most emotional one and sensitive to music. Poor dear, just like her mama used to be at that age. One sappy song and I was sunk! More soft words, more reassurances, more hugs. Back to the pew. Calm sweet girl, sitting next to me.
Another song. Surely Mass would begin soon! The water works begin again. Back to the back. This time... consoling, imploring, even begging. Could you just make it through Mass? Please. I'll stay in the back with you if you'd like. It would be the best Christmas gift you could give us. (Guilt? you might cry. You used guilt? Yep. I was desperate!) Mass had started now. We could do this. Duck in quickly to tell Husband I was going to hold down the fort in the back. He was in command of the forces in the pew. We couldn't sit together, but we could do this!
In the back, she and I hunkered down. No chairs, no benches, no heat. No problem! Sit on my coat honey and just try your best! It's OK! Really, it's OK!
"Mom, my tummy doesn't feel good."
You know what came next, right?
SIGH
We left.
She made it home with a box that once held cookies for the BIL's family we hoped to visit with after Mass tucked underneath her chin. It had a snowman on it with a hat that said "Believe!" Why does that strike me as funny now? (Don't worry BIL family, we'll find a new box for your treats.) She also had a rotten headache and really dark circles under her eyes. No fever. I suspect a sinus migraine. She was fine this morning.
Husband and I looked at each other last night, after everyone was tucked in bed. We tried, we sighed sadly. We certainly tried.
Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope you are all holding each other close and singing too!
We planned and prepared all Advent long. We worked toward and fought against and waited in joyful hope. And then... the Grinch with his bony fingers and sneering face came and took it all away. That's how it felt. So there was a choice to be made. I could pout and cry and scream Boo Hoo... or I could hold my family and sing. We tried to sing. Squeaky, small voices, weary and battered. We tried.
We planned to go to our regular, beautiful, quiet, least crowded Mass on Christmas morning. Christmas morning at the Abbey with all of the monks we love, sleepy though they be from Midnight Mass before (which begins at midnight, of course!). It's warm and happy. No rushing around, no squeezing in. But Old Man Winter had a different plan. After seeing the weather forecast we knew our plans would need to change. We looked at the Mass schedule for the church closest by that required no bridges, no overpasses to travel over. 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. We were watching the roads carefully as our guests were still on their way. Yes, our guests! My father and his wife we coming to spend the night with us and the road conditions were making their 4 hour trip stretch into more. We missed the 4pm Mass.We gave up hope of going to church with our loved ones still crawling toward us and thought we could try for the 6 by ourselves. Husband decided to test the roads alone first. He made it about 5 blocks before having to turn around. The wind and blowing snow made visibility none existent.
We tried again for 8 hoping that the winds might have calmed down enough. They hadn't. 40 mph with 60 mph gusts. That's a blizzard isn't it? This time, he made it only a few blocks before almost colliding with someone sliding through a four way stop. Neither of them could stop but thankfully, there was space between them.
At 9:30pm, my father finally arrived in his diesel truck with monster tires and 4 wheel drive. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT," he commanded. Very seldom have I seen my father afraid of the road. His face was as white as the snow still whipping around us.
4, 6, 8, 10 or midnight had been our goal. We gave up the hope of welcoming Our Lord that night and went to sleep on a saggy air mattress in the spare room hoping that by unexpectedtly giving our bed to the guests who couldn't make it to the Holiday Inn, we might all be able to meet at the stable in the morning. 10pm or noon was our new wish.
Before 10 the next morning, Husband climbed into the cab of the mighty machine with 4 wheel drive and locking hubs and held on as my father who has never caved to elements before tried to travel the distance between us and our hope. He got stuck at the bottom of the driveway. The hill in front of our house was a sheet of ice. Our hope for 10 was gone.
12 o'clock was our last chance. Spanish Mass! We didn't care! We were going to be there!!! Once more, 2 Dads ventured out hoping to blaze the trail for us and came back defeated. The tall trees we love to gaze upon as fall changes to winter and then bursts into spring were holding the sun back, keeping the hill and streets shaded from the sun's warm fingers. We desperately longed for the Son, but would have to be content with "Not this year."
Now, for those of you reading this in places that are used to the cold and fluffy white bounty of winter, let me just explain... our only shovel is pointed and does a wonderful job digging holes. Salt? Why yes, there is a sweet little girl holding an umbrella on this container right here. Is that enough? Sand? We like it on our beaches very much, why would we keep some in the garage? The weather men were reporting that this kind of weather has negatively impacted Christmas Eve and Day travel only 12 times in the last 168 years. This is Texas after all!
Around 2pm, the temperature was warm enough to turn the ice to slush, but there was no Mass to be found. Or so we thought.
My BIL called and mentioned that they were heading out to the Latin Mass. Latin Mass? LATIN MASS!!! We haven't been in years, but we could make it. Our guests had left and everyone was still in the beautiful clothes I made them put on 8 o'clock that morning, just in case! We piled in the car, crunching over the once treacherous glaze with relative ease. Over bridge, over ramp, we made it with time to spare! We sat, happy and warm in an unfamiliar church, waiting for an unfamiliar Mass, but all expecting that very familiar person we had come to see. Him. He was coming. We had made it.
As the voices of the choir gently drifted down from the loft above sweetly singing of angels, I wanted to spend the next half hour in prayer thanking God and waiting for Mass to begin. I fiddled for my rosary and looked over at my beautiful family. Shortcake was crying. Huh? Husband took her to the back to find out what was wrong. Just a little over tired, for sure!
They were back. He nodded his head reassuringly. She was fine. The choir was on to another hymn. BigBoy was playing with my rosary pouch. Shortcake burst into tears again. This time, I took her back. Calm words, comforting hugs. She is my most emotional one and sensitive to music. Poor dear, just like her mama used to be at that age. One sappy song and I was sunk! More soft words, more reassurances, more hugs. Back to the pew. Calm sweet girl, sitting next to me.
Another song. Surely Mass would begin soon! The water works begin again. Back to the back. This time... consoling, imploring, even begging. Could you just make it through Mass? Please. I'll stay in the back with you if you'd like. It would be the best Christmas gift you could give us. (Guilt? you might cry. You used guilt? Yep. I was desperate!) Mass had started now. We could do this. Duck in quickly to tell Husband I was going to hold down the fort in the back. He was in command of the forces in the pew. We couldn't sit together, but we could do this!
In the back, she and I hunkered down. No chairs, no benches, no heat. No problem! Sit on my coat honey and just try your best! It's OK! Really, it's OK!
"Mom, my tummy doesn't feel good."
You know what came next, right?
SIGH
We left.
She made it home with a box that once held cookies for the BIL's family we hoped to visit with after Mass tucked underneath her chin. It had a snowman on it with a hat that said "Believe!" Why does that strike me as funny now? (Don't worry BIL family, we'll find a new box for your treats.) She also had a rotten headache and really dark circles under her eyes. No fever. I suspect a sinus migraine. She was fine this morning.
Husband and I looked at each other last night, after everyone was tucked in bed. We tried, we sighed sadly. We certainly tried.
Merry Christmas to all of you. I hope you are all holding each other close and singing too!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Seriously?
Do we dare to dream of a White Christmas?
Today: Snow and widespread blowing snow before noon, then snow likely and widespread blowing snow after noon. Temperature falling to around 31 by 5pm. Windy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to between 30 and 35 mph. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Yesterday's high
The heat index was 122 degrees. That's what we call stinkin' hot!
We're havin' a heat wave. A tropical heat wave.
The temperature's rising,
It isn't surprising.
She certainly can can-can!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Log Cabin Village
subtitled: Field trip! Whoo hoo!
And... today being San Jacinto Day, we couldn't have asked for better inspiration. We came home and read from one of our favorite Texas history books about the Battle of San Jacinto and will peruse our more detailed map of Texas later to find the locations of these historic events. But for now, we are content with looking at pictures and making plans to return with Daddy who is our resident history nut. Hope you enjoy the montage below.
*And to my sweet friend who wasn't able to join us today, you name the date and we will meet you there with lunch pails in our hands and bonnets on our heads!
"On this day we plant acacia~
Pile bright flowers on grassy mound,
Dropping tears of kind remembrance,
Where a soldier's grave is found.
And, with reverential spirit,
To the God of battles pray
That our sons may proudly cherish
This our San Jacinto Day."
Today was a lovely day for a field trip and the perfect jump start to our history studies. Since the girls have finished up with their American Girls history studies, I think we are going to spend the remainder of the year with Texas history and what a great place to begin but the Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth! These log cabins were all built in the mid 1800's, disassembled, moved and put back together like giant jigsaw puzzles in this location to create a village of history.Pile bright flowers on grassy mound,
Dropping tears of kind remembrance,
Where a soldier's grave is found.
And, with reverential spirit,
To the God of battles pray
That our sons may proudly cherish
This our San Jacinto Day."
And... today being San Jacinto Day, we couldn't have asked for better inspiration. We came home and read from one of our favorite Texas history books about the Battle of San Jacinto and will peruse our more detailed map of Texas later to find the locations of these historic events. But for now, we are content with looking at pictures and making plans to return with Daddy who is our resident history nut. Hope you enjoy the montage below.
*And to my sweet friend who wasn't able to join us today, you name the date and we will meet you there with lunch pails in our hands and bonnets on our heads!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Out like a lamb?
A stampede of lambs, maybe! Golf ball sized hail. Maybe a bit bigger. Followed by almost 2 inches of rain in about 15 minutes time. Followed by pea sized hail that mostly covered our driveway! We have heard and felt baseball sized hail before so I am pretty sure it wasn't that bad. And... there is more on the way! But the day is lovely today and was made even lovelier by the company of friends who are cozier than spring! The children played together in the soggy park and we enjoyed the warmth of the sun and pleasant conversation. I can't think of a better way to say goodbye to March and hello to April!
OK, I could do without the hail. Have a lovely Tuesday!
OK, I could do without the hail. Have a lovely Tuesday!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Welcome Spring!
Those of you still freezin' yer buns off are free to click through while you count down the days before you can rub summer in our faces!
Yes, spring has sprung in our part of the world. How do I know? Well, let me see...
Daffodils blooming in the flower beds? Check.
Birds a flutter in the back yard? Check
Potential for 70 mph winds, golf ball sized hail and rain wrapped tornadoes? Check!
Potential dissipated just hours after we canceled our plans for today? Check.
Apparently someone was readying for Armageddon!
Yes, spring has sprung in our part of the world. How do I know? Well, let me see...
Daffodils blooming in the flower beds? Check.
Birds a flutter in the back yard? Check
Potential for 70 mph winds, golf ball sized hail and rain wrapped tornadoes? Check!
Potential dissipated just hours after we canceled our plans for today? Check.
But just to be safe, we readied our storm closet...
Apparently someone was readying for Armageddon!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
What she said...
I have no spark in July. We endure July.... It's still hot in August, but in August we can see the end. It's actually still hot in September, but it's all mental, friends. We can hope for a cold front.Here, my friend of the heart (and heat), is the one little sentence that my husband whispered into my ear before he left this morning. You may cling to it, as I am, in the hope of Fall's early arrival...
Cowboys training camp starts today!
If they're playing football, Fall is on it's way.
Friday, April 11, 2008
The cleanup begins...
Guess which house is the homeschooling house? When life hands you lemons...
We call him The Supervisor! This guy and his friend kept an unusually close eye on us all morning. We think they might be nesting in the area. I suspect they were looking to score some easy lunch by finding a fallen nest.
The mockingbirds were on patrol protecting the little ones we believe are hidden away in some bushes.
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