An Award

My dear friend Gloria from Viva la Vida passed on the Kreativ Blogger award to me. As per one of the rules, I will place the picture of the award to the right on my blog. There are only two other rules: I have to list seven things that I love AND I have to pass it on to seven other bloggers. I also must notify them. So, for the things that I love:

1. I love my Creator, the Lord God of Israel, and his Son Jesus.

2. I love my family!

3. I love mangos.

4. I love gardening.

5. I love stitchery crafts: sewing, knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.

6. I love knowing that each day gives me a brand new chance to be
a better person.

7. I love the life I've been given.

And for the blogs to pass it on to:

1. Lynda from Among The Hedgerows
2. AnnaMae from The Velvet Cloud
3. Tilly from Tilly's Tea
4. Heather from Bluebird Studio
5. Sharon from Adventures From the Sewing Studio
6. Elaine from At Home And About
7. Sandra from Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom

Hope everyone has fun with it as I did!

Because I Remembered Selena

I don't rightly remember how it came up, but I mentioned in a comment Selena Quintanilla's music. I had meant to add one of her songs to my playlist, but decided instead to just include a video of one of her performances. A young lady who was struck down in the bloom of her life back in 1995, she left a lasting impression on the Mexican and Mexican American community. I suppose because she represented the hopes of those who aspire to 'make it' in an English speaking and Anglo-Saxon dominated industry. Not that there's anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say. But in all fairness, being designated 'ethnic' never made reaching success easy. There are of course, a few exceptions. All debates aside, Selena was talented and beautiful, two ingredients which are absolutely necessary in her field. This was just one of her songs.

The Sleeping Garden

Computer woes kept me from writing duties. Life doesn't stop because of a sickly computer, though. I had time to just be. On one particularly nice day, and well before this recent cold front, I was out and about in the garden. There is something just so pretty and peaceful about a Winter garden. It's tucked in for the time being, my sleeping garden. Rest is good. My pictures of that day serve to remind me that just below the surface, things are not how they appear. Certainly, everything looks so bleak and cold right now. Yet life is simmering, waiting to explode onto the surface with the first inkling of warmer days. January beauty, I love you!

Things that also make me feel warm and fuzzy and cozy when it's cold outside are nicely packaged parcels which unexpectedly arrive in the day's mail. My good Amiga Gloria sent me these amazing art frames!
And all the way from California too!
To wit: colorful art prints from her own paintings create a most
unique multi-media collage on sturdy wood frames. The lady has talent!
It's funny, but when you see artwork on web pages, it's hard to get a sense of the artistic effort and beauty as clearly as when you can see it up close and personal. Wish I could be as creative and talented as she is with paint and brushes. Believe me, I've tried. She does inspire me to try again, though. Her paintings "Gisela" and "Pink Cheeks" are sure to be treasured by me. But my all time favorite is "Woman with Earrings" from her 'Woman of the Eyebrow Series'. I love those earrings! I like this artwork which has a 'Frida Kahlo' touch. Thank you so much Gloria! I know we'll be seeing more of Gloria's new artwork soon. In fact, I did
stop by her site earlier, and she has some new artwork up that I hadn't seen before.


These are just some pictures of the garden on that day I mentioned before. It's pretty much dormant, except for the greenery here and there. This is our comet fish pond. I love their color! Very much like the tangerine fruit from our tree.

The rose garden is bedded down for the season also. Roses were pruned and heavily mulched beforehand.

Wish the camera lenses could have captured all the birdies having a field day at this bird feeder. They're there, unseen in the photo, though. They blend in with the branches and foliage. It was sunflower seeds destined for the cardinals, but as always, the common 'pulguientos' or house wrens always get first dibs.

This is the Season for citrus fruit, though. Our tangerine tree usually produces some of the sweetest most succulent fruit. This year, however, like the Mexican lime tree, it only produced a handful. Very sweet fruit though!

It does taste and smell as wonderful as it looks:

There is just so much to be grateful for! As the Lord said ".....to everything there is a Season...."

Evening Garden

I was out and about in the garden enjoying the warmer temps we had today. Lately, with the cool weather we've had, other than going out for my walks, I tend to stay indoors. And my plants have suffered somewhat. As evidenced by my brugmansia or Angel Trumpet, the plant was sorely in need of water. The leaves start to wilt and sag, and the flowers fail to fully open when the plant is thirsty. Almost as soon as you water it, it begins to perk up. In our zone, they do well with daily waterings. And in optimal conditions, what a sight they offer! Gorgeous pendulous flowers hang from every stem. They also emit a wonderful aroma.


It's also a treat watching Miss Kitty trying to avoid getting her delicate paws wet!

I do think though, that she enjoys being out just as much as I do.

She's not afraid of my clunky Crocs either!

It's supposed to stay warm for a few days before we get another cool front. I'll do my best to enjoy being outdoors more often again. I have more pictures of the garden to take. Most of the trees have shed all their leaves, but there is still a lot of greenery in the garden. I guess our next few posts will be about the garden then!

Chorizo con Huevos

Which came first, the egg or the chicken, or in this case the piggy? I'm still not sure which is the correct way to say it; is it chorizo con huevos or huevos con chorizo? Anyhow, what a great way to start the day! A steaming plate of spicy chorizo cooked with scrambled eggs. For this meal I also added some beans. I could have done the beans on the side, maybe refried. This however was pretty good.

Flour tortillas are nice in case you want to make tacos out of your meal. But I can't take credit for making them though.

These come from the store uncooked. Simply cook over a hot comal or griddle.
Sometimes it's nice to take shortcuts. Some hot, strong coffee goes really good with this classic Mexican breakfast.

January Beginnings

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'........

It's always great to feel optimistic when a new year rolls in. A good reminder that we get a new opportunity, a clean slate to start over, new hopes, and even a new look if we so desire. I've been wanting for quite some time to try something different in the way I dress. I really like the western look, but realistically I know I wouldn't look so good in western duds, because of my weight. But boots I can do:

I love the way they look in the early morning light. And so it is that I acquire the 'vaquera' look. Cowgirl if you please. I'm really going to love wearing an apron with these little botitas.

We were in San Antonio yesterday, and I checked out a few Western Wear stores. Ended up getting these here in town.
The next pair will have more pink, I guarantee you. I've already got my eyes on it. But first things first. I have to break these in first, and really get comfortable wearing them. Part one of the dream: check. The chickens, goats, and sheep will just have to wait a little. One little step at a time.

Gloria Made Me Do This or Tag! You're It!

Well, my buddy Gloria over at Viva la Vida has tagged me. No, she didn't attach a price or name tag to my little body, but has included me in a cyber game making the rounds on blogs. This online game of tag reminds me of the childhood game we used to play way back a long time ago! It is a lot of fun! Like any game, there are rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So here goes: Six random things about myself-

1. When I was in high school, I was a disc jockey at a radio station.

2. At one time I was a police dispatcher. That's where I met my sweetie.

3. I had a craniotomy (brain surgery) almost 20 years ago.

4. I was 22 years old when I accepted the Lord Jesus into my heart and
my life. That moment in time is something you never forget, like where
you were when JFK died.

5. I still can't make up my mind what I want to be when I grow up. :)))
Shall I be a great baker, a cowgirl in boots tending a small farm, or a
coffee shop/bakery owner?

6. I love whole flax seed!

So now, I shall tag:

1. Elaine from At Home And About

2. Deborah from Pictures Pots and Things

3. Beth from Life Is A Musical

4. Carrie from Dixie Mango

5. Peggy from The House Of Kent

6. Deanna from Just Deanna

I know sometimes people don't want to participate, and that is fine. I try to include different people, and hope I don't duplicate the same blogs again. Have fun!

A New Year's Hope!

I have to start my new year with at least a short post. Even if it's one little sentence. Well, maybe more than one sentence. The husband and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve. Just the two of us, as we often do since the boys left home. The little one was in town visiting, but understandably, certain celebrations are better spent with friends. This time around, there was no bubbly either, since we forgot to buy some. Just watching the lights flicker on the tree, and listening to the sounds of the firecrackers. When it was almost midnight, we ventured outside as we always do to see the colorful array of firecrackers lighting up the sky, with phone in hand. At the stroke of midnight, we called our two babies to ring in the new year.
I realize this is different than most people do, but it suits us fine. This is how we live. Simple lives for simple folk. The single most important thing for me at the moment of welcoming the new year is to acknowledge God, and to thank him, and to ask for his blessing over us. That is all we need, plain and simple. Him. Whatever he sees fit for us, whether blessings or trials and tribulations, so be it. Father knows best. Besides, by now, I do have a better sense that 'there is nothing new under the sun'. One year blends effortlessly into the next. The days spent in between each year feel almost like we are in suspended animation. Waiting for that next big event, the next big news...and the next, and the next. Until that final moment, which would be either death, OR...... the Lord's return to gather his people. At which point and time, the selected will not experience death ever, but will disappear in the 'blink of an eye'. The hope and promise for this generation of Christians. The generation of the last days. How can we say this is the generation of the last days? Just look to Israel. Keep your ears tuned to everything that happens there. The apple of God's eye. But that is a post for another day. I must say this, what a glorious hope we have!!