Clouds

Don't you just love spring/summer clouds?  They are usually so interesting especially with an impending storm moving in.  Last night we had that situation.  We got a few sprinkles from said storms.  What a bunch of fuss and grumble for that.  I need RAIN.  Real rain.  Oh well, eventually maybe. 

Got the pool up yesterday.  It is not a big one and it is one with the blown up top.  We have a couple of small holes in the top so today I have to go get something to patch it.  It is much too cold to let the boys swim anyway.  Will take a couple of days to warm up plus I need to treat it.  Swim is too big a word for this pool.  Paddle around?  Oh well, it will keep them a little busy this summer and cool.

Giveaway!

I have a blog you need to visit and sign up to win a $75 gift certificate to apply toward a belt or purse.  I have not checked out the prices at the store but if $75 is to be applied, I am not sure I can afford one!  However, it might be fun.  Go to Screwed Up Texan and check it out.  My favorite purse is the Institution Collection Neeka.  I don't know why - it just appeals to me!

PS:  Just looked at the belts and purses closer, even the one I want.  I think I can afford one!  See what happens when you speak too soon.

Gotta go dress Zane.  We are going to the school to see Zachary get awards. 

One more week of school and a free small kit for my scrapbooking friends

There is one more week of school here.  Then it is going to be a trial to just stay up with activities for kids.  Oh, there will be days we need to find something to do especially with Zachary.  At nearly 9 he just needs to be busy and at our house there are no kids that stay home during the summer months.  The first week will be downtime pretty much.  I do plan on taking him to buy some worms so we can have a real worm farm.  I want to find a used fish tank so we can see the activity.  Maybe a few garage sales and we will find one cheap.  Then Zachary and Zane both will take swimming lessons for two weeks.  Need to get out our swimming pool.  It is not deep but will give the boys a small activity.  I know we will visit the zoo, Discovery Center, maybe Wildlife Center.  And I have it set up for them both to go to Mother's Day Out a few times this summer just to have a change of pace.  Zachary has basketball camp for a whole week too and all day long!  Of course, our library has lots of activities for all ages during the summer and a summer reading program.  Two weeks of vacation in July.  Surely there will be NO "I'm bored" days.  Yeah, right!

I got a couple of pictures of our barn swallows on the porch yesterday.  I drove up and they were sitting on my hanging planter irons.  After turning off my music, pulling out my camera and getting it ready, I backed the car up slowly and took photos.  I had to pull on the grass a bit and use the zoom.  For some reason the car did not bother them.  Anyway, here are some of the photos.

    

They have been busy building a nest on the rafter part of the porch.  Mud.  Not sure where they get mud.  Maybe the garden.  And now that I am watering probably there too.  Here is front and back (back and front?).

I would love to get a ladder or stepstool and look in but will wait a couple of days.

We had a rumble of thunder here last night buy no rain.  A bit of rain today - just enough to dirty up cars.  Apparently a couple areas got a lot of rain and had some flooding.  Wish we could just get a bit more!  Maybe later today.

I am getting rather spoiled with pedicures!  Kathleen and I got one before the wedding - and a manicure - and another yesterday.  During the summer I just need them more often but really, two weeks?  So I will probably wait about three for the next one.  Grin.  No, I did not get a manicure.  Too much digging in the flowers and yard right now.  I do plan on tending to my nails thought.  Amazing how a couple of weeks and the cuticles already look bad. 

For my scrapbooking friends - a small kit

I have a small kit for you.  Hope you like it.  The link is here or click on the preview.  The inspiration for this kit came from a blanket that Zachary and Zane have.

John's Wedding

We went to Dallas this week to my nephew John's wedding.  We had lovely weather and a beautiful wedding.  Thursday we drove from home and checked into the motel.  The kids went swimming for just a bit.  COLD water but they loved it. The we took off for the rehearsal dinner.  I had printed out lots and lots of maps and directions to every play we planned to visit!  And those maps came in quite handy.  We really had very little finding any of our locations and maybe a bit finding our way home a couple of times.

The rehearsal dinner was at a Mexican food restaurant in downtown Dallas called Mattito's.  It was good and a great place for a gathering.  Loved it when people stood and told stories and gave toasts.  Thank you, Molly, for inviting us!

Friday morning we got up and went down to breakfast.  As we were eating Travis called and he was there at the airport!  At 8:30 as opposed to the 10:15 we were expecting him.  Apparently he got to the airport EARLY so they asked if he wanted to get on the earlier flight.  Poor guy - he had never flown before in his life.  He was so scared and excited.  Anyway, we got him picked up, went back to the motel, picked up the others and headed to Cleburne to check out some travel trailers.  Found some, but did not buy.  Debating it still.  Came back to the motel, went swimming.  BRRRRR!  But boy the kids had fun - all of them.  Showered and got ready for the wedding.

The wedding was held in downtown Dallas at Marie Gabrielle.  I took some photos there but did not capture near enough.  However, I know I can check the photographer's site later and see or purchase more.  The wedding was beautiful.  Simple and elegant at the same time.  The bride was beautiful, the food was good, the music was fantastic!  The wedding was held outside and the weather was a bit warm but not too bad.  Of course, for us Panhandle people it was humid and warm but probably not for those from that area. 

Pictures of John's rehearsal and wedding.  We left the wedding a bit early as we had tired kids and wanted to get back to the hotel.  It took us one and a half hours to get home due to a wreck on the highway.  I have never sat in traffic that long in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area even when we lived there.  So glad I don't live there now!

Saturday we were flying home.  Mike, Kathleen and boys were staying to go to the Rangers game and driving the truck home Sunday.  Our flight was at 3:30 so the plan was to take us to the airport about 1:30 so the kids could get back to the game.  We put all of our luggage in the truck and did not have to take anything but my laptop, camera and purse!  What a way to travel.  It was raining and I was really afraid we might be delayed.  Nope.  Took off in time but all we saw were clouds.  Part way in the flight we hit a bit of turbulence.  Now let me tell you, I had Ross on one side experiencing claustrophobia and Travis fearing crashing.  Which one do I talk to more?  Funny!!!  Now.  But the plane made it fine of course.  And we got off in Amarillo with drizzle and COLD!  Fifty-four degrees.  That was a jolt.

I am still tired.  Guess I will be better tomorrow.  OK, back to real life and cooking dinner.  I am sure there is something missing here but will tell you more later.

Barn Swallows attack!!

We have barn swallows again this year in our front porch.  And they are vigorous at trying to keep me away!  However, I have to go out the front door!  Yesterday I decided to set my camera to shoot continuously as I held down the button.  I caught some fairly good pictures and lots of nothing but air.  I put together a small slide show with some of the good ones.  Barn swallows are so pretty.  I love that blue iridescence and the orange underside.  Enjoy.

Summer and gardening season have started

And boy am I behind!  We do have the garden plowed.  And my plan is a SIMPLE garden.  Blackeyes, green beans (a few rows), tomatoes of course, a jalapeno pepper plant or two, and cantaloupe.  I cannot think of anything else I just have to have.  Not doing onions as our soil is just too tight and I HATE fighting the weeds around them.  But I do plan on buying that black weed out material and mulching this year.  I really need a mulching system I know.  That may be our next project.

The dove eggs are still there.  How long is the gestation period for doves?  Two eggs being tenderly tended by the mama.  I have one photo of her back on the barbed wire behind our property.  I can't wait to see these babies hatch and grow.

Soccer season is nearly over.  Most of our games have been darn cold or windy.  But I do miss it when it is over.  Zachary has really suddenly been playing so well.  He is scoring nearly every game and the team as a whole is playing together.  Way to go, Arsenal!

 

And just what has Zane been doing through all this?  Well, he attends the soccer games but if it gets too cold he usually wants to go to the car.  We have done that, too.  No need to have him freezing and miserable because that means we are miserable.  Just a pretty typical three year old.  He is a character!

  

On a really fun note, the boys are gathering worms for a warm farm.  Zachary found a worm one day and I said something about starting a worm farm.  So Zane went out and was going to find a worm.  We had looked and could not find one so I really doubted he would find one very easily.  He was in in about five minutes saying he found a worm.  Yeah, yeah, uh huh.  Went out and the little booger had a huge worm in the back of his "car".  Oh my goodness!  That is what I get for doubting.  So of course the hunt was on.  They have since found several worms and we are working on growing worms.  Let you know how that comes out.

We are off to Dallas this week.  Going to the wedding of a nephew in Dallas.  We are making a travel trailer hunt out of it too.  Seems - per Ross - that there are lots of bargains to be had in that area.  Travis is flying down Friday and Ross and I will fly back on Saturday with him.  Kathleen, Mike and boys are going to a Rangers game Saturday so they will bring the truck home on Sunday.  It is all working out really well.

Is anyone out there twittering or facebooking?  I am but am not a good tweeter.  Just have such a boring life who wants to know every minute?  Grin.

What else was I going to tell everyone in this post?  Hmmmmm.  Well, guess I will have to do another soon.  Happy Mother's Day all!!!