Remembering Galveston

Galveston and Kemah are trashed. Rob and I visited both places this summer. We ducked into The Balinese Room http://www.balineseroom.net/ to get out of the rain. Rob had never been inside and wanted to check it out. They let us walk all the way to the back and look around. It was the 4th of July weekend and they were setting up for a private party in the ball room. As we walked along the pier, we could see the ocean through holes in the wood floor! It was awesome! We sat at the old bar at the front, sipping a Corona with lime and chatted with the bartender while looking at a wall full of pictures of famous people who had 'played' there (music and otherwise!). ZZ Top played gigs there when they were just a 'little old band' from Houston. They even wrote and recorded a song about it. The place always held a certain mystery for it's reputation from the days of prohibition. Later, it was just a familiar site to we native Houstonians each time we went to The Island. Invariably, someone would say as we passed this old, weathered structure jutting out into the water, 'Look, there's The Balinese Room', like it was some kind of a shrine. Well, to us, in it's own unique way, I suppose it was. A part of our local history that had survived many other storms was finally taken down by Ike. Galveston will recover and rebuild but the Sea Wall won't be the same without The Balinese.

It's sad, y'all....

Ike...Yikes!!!

The driveway was covered in debris. Jim parked mine and Lavonne's car in a warehouse that he owns nearby. We had just gone and moved them back to the house. Good thing...the streets around the warehouse flooded!

Sis, starting the clean up. Papa John's Chestnut tree received a good pruning. He planted it years ago.

Jim, attacking this gigantic limb that fell on the corner of their house.

Very minimal damage was done but it sounded like the entire tree was coming down when it hit.

This is the back of the house. Notice the extension cords running out the window to the generator in the garage. Our lifeline!

A huge limb from this Tallow tree barely missed the swing.

The day after Ike...digging out of the fallen limbs and debris. This is my sister and brother in laws' home, where I 'hunkered' (love that word) during the storm of the century. They live on the north side of Houston, near Bush IAH airport. We fared better than a lot of folks but....

WHAT A MESS, Y'all!!

The Bluebirds are Gone

Well, they've been gone for a month or so...I've just been too upset to write about it. I guess the little red house held too many sad memories after the death of their babies. Or maybe it was because red wasps kept building a nest inside...who knows? One day, it occurred to me that I hadn't seen them coming and going so I began to watch for them. I heard no sweet chirps outside my window, saw no early morning 'breakfast runs', no late afternoon feedings. I watched and waited for days but they never returned! It's not the same without them. I miss those beautiful blue creatures!

Once again, I've learned a lesson from the birds. They know when it's time to move so they just pack up and go! I've been in this house too long and have felt for quite a while that it was time to move on; to leave the shadow of old memories behind. But it's easier for the birds...they take wing to parts unknown, leaving no thought to the gory details. We humans have to worry about things like financial obligations and other trivia. Birds, like butterflies are so free!

I want to be a Bluebird, (or a Redbird?). Or maybe Mr B and I will stay in The Keys and I'll be a pink Flamingo! Wonder what kind of bird he'd like to be?

Here's to being free as a bird, y'all!

Booty Bag

This is my latest project...a cute purse made from old jeans. I got the recipe from Catie-Beth, #1 granddaughter. She and her sister Abby and I made them each one when I was visiting in July. I came home and found a pair of Old Navy jeans in my brothers stuff and started snipping and sewing. Catie-Beth found a pattern online and I'm sure there are many others out there as well. We used the basic instructions to make the bag, then used our imaginations to decorate and embellish. The girls' bags had purchased iron on appliques and buttons. My appliques are cut from floral fabric and applied with a heat transfer material. I love the bright orange lining. I added an inside pocket, made from the floral fabric...kind of brings it all together. The belt came with a pair of capris and I never wore it with them. Glad I saved it!

Everyone wants one! I'd have to charge 200.00 bucks a pop, I'm afraid. It's all hand sewn and glued with fabric glue for extra strength. I literally bled at times, trying to get a huge needle thru that tough denim! Between that and burning my fingers on the iron while transfering the appliques, my hands were sore.

It will be perfect to take to Key West next month. Mr B and I are counting the days!

Anyway, it was fun...but I'm done y'all!

Fun in Galveston

Mr B and I went to Galveston for July 4th. Stayed at The Harbour House at Pier 21 on the Strand. We did the usual stuff...ate at Rudy & Paco, The Sky Bar (great sushi), The Sunflower Bakery (awesome breakfast), shopped the Strand, caught some sun and swam at The Galvez pool. We found a fun place to watch the fireworks at the Seawall. It's called 'The Spot', where all the Harley riders hang out. A guy standing near us gave Rob the cap....now all he needs is a Harley! All in all, it was a fun, relaxing time.

It's all good, y'all!

Texas Storm

Saturday afternoon Mr B and I drove down to Kemah for dinner. We were at Joe's Crab Shack, enjoying the view across the bay while waiting for our yummy Bar B Qued crab legs. Suddenly the horizon turned dark and huge lightening bolts began to fill the sky. A steady stream of sailboats made a beeline for the marina before the rains came. Later, as we walked along the boardwalk, the setting sun reflected off the storm clouds, making a complete rainbow...Awesome!

Check it out: www.kemahboardwalk.com. The place was packed when we arrived but the sudden storm sent everyone running for cover inside the shops and restaurants. As we browsed in the shops, I noticed a decidedly 'New Orleans-y' vibe. We had coffee and Beignets in a jazzy, New Orleans themed cafe and saw a variety of merchandise and products catering to 'Nawlins' folks. Thankfully though, there were plenty of Texas souveniers, along side UT and A&M stuff! It's just that everywhere I go in south Texas there seems to be a Cajun influence...blown in by a certain storm named Katrina.

I'm cool with it, for the most part....but I wonder if I would see any Armadillo shaped refrigerator magnets or Texas sized shot glasses in any of the souvenier shops in the French Quarter...all mixed in with the voo doo dolls and Mardi Gras beads?

Now, that would be a hoot, y'all!

Check out Elvis' blog. He has an exciting story!

A Lesson From The Birds

I've written before about the family of Eastern Bluebirds who live on my back porch. They took up residence in a red birdhouse about a year ago and have raised several broods there. I enjoy watching them coming and going, not only because they are so beautiful but because they are so faithful and dedicated to their little family. I know the eggs have hatched when I see them flying in with juicy bugs! They swoop down into the grass and come up with grasshoppers, crickets and anything else that has legs.


Early one morning last week I saw a little guy peeking out! He knew it was time to fly the coop and discover the great outdoors. He was ready to test his wings and soar! Well, sometime during the wee hours of Saturday night, he made it out of the house. I heard the boyz barking around 2:00 am. I got up and looked outside, didn't see anything so I scolded them to be quiet and went back to bed. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when I let them out Sunday morning. After breakfast they went back out and I noticed Elvis getting quite agitated. He and Presley like to sniff out frogs and lizards among the pot plants underneath the birdhouses. I thought nothing of it and went on about my business in the house. Later, I decided to take my second cup of coffee out on the porch and commune with nature for a while. As I stepped out the door I saw Elvis standing by his quarry.....it was a dead baby bluebird! He was wet and bloody with one wing hanging by a thread. Elvis was only doing what comes naturally but I was horrified at the thought of him eating the dead carcass. I quickly picked up the limp little body and threw it over the fence. Elvis and Presley had the most puzzled look on their faces!


Later, the parents flew to the house with breakfast, only to find it empty. I felt so sorry for them! They kept coming back, looking for their baby. All day, they came back to the house...waiting and watching. This is the empty nest syndrome at it's worst!


That evening I decided to take the house down and try to clean it out. I unscrewed the bottom and out came a years worth of nesting material. The birds had built one nest on top of the other with each new clutch of eggs. About halfway down in the layers, I found three blue eggs that had never hatched. I hung the empty house back in its place and waited to see what happened. Soon, the adults came back and went inside. They came back the next morning and evening, too. I wondered if they would rebuild and start another family. This morning I saw them taking in fresh pieces of straw!


That's the way to do it, little birds! Even though I helped them clean up the mess, they came back and started rebuilding on their own!
Like Minnie Pearl said; "God has a plan for us all, but he expects us to do our share of the work." Disasters happen, relationships go awry, we get ourselves into a mess sometimes. Whatever the case, God is always there to help us clean it up...BUT he expects us to get up, re-build and carry on!

His grace is sufficient, y'all!

What Happens In Vegas - Trailer #2

This is a mindless, funny, predictable bit of fluff, plus Cameron and Ashton are both eye candy. Mr B and I ran in to see it on the spur of the moment after dinner last night. It served it's purpose and was good for a few laughs, a bit of romance... AND they lived happily ever after!

Girlfriends

"Laughter bonds friends---even when everything goes wrong."

Me and my bff's celebrating Sheila's birthday..she's the cute blond on the right. Lisa's on the left. We went to the new Texas Roadhouse. The atmosphere was perfect for our little party. We had a nice meal, then, as usual, we started cutting up! Well, I can't go into the details of our conversation....but we ran the gamut! The subject of men and relationships always seems to come up, (use your imagination). I'm sure other diners were wondering what was going on at our table! We sat there long after we had finished eating, giggling like teenagers! It makes the management nervous when people do that...they are so anxious to move you out so they can get more paying customers at the table. We finally took the hint and moved on to Starbuck's, where the 'sharing' continued. All I can say is that 'What happens at Starbuck's, stays at Starbuck's!'



What a blessing these two gals are to me! We have shared laughter and tears, good times and bad. We have all been through some rough spots. We may not always agree but we love and accept each other, 'warts' and all. Yes, even when everything goes wrong, it's nice to know that God places special people in our life...who will be there to help pick up the pieces and move forward. AND best of all, go out to dinner and whoop it up once in a while!

My girls rock, ya'll!

Official Iron Man Theatrical Trailer 2008

Mr. B and I saw this movie last night...loved it! Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly awesome!

Bluebonnet Festival

The weather was absolutely perfect last Saturday! We got up early and headed for Chappell Hill, Texas and the annual Bluebonnet Festival. Many vendors were still setting up when we arrived around 9:00 am so we did a 'walk thru' to see what was available. I'm always on the look out for something new and unique and was thrilled to find the most unique handmade pendants! They are called 'Shadowbox Pendants', made by a couple of gals who call themselves 'Back Yard Friends', from Montgomery, Texas. Each one is a small box crafted from metal and glass. Inside the boxes are small charms, such as crosses, stars, guitars ( my favorite ) etc, mounted on colorful paper backgrounds. An added plus: they are reversible! Mine has a guitar on one side and a tiny rhinestone star on the other. They are worn on a large 'ball' chain. I'll take a picture and post it soon. I love it!!!

My next purchase was a pack of cedar grilling planks and seasoning from http://www.southernmailboxman.com/. My next stop was at Pepper Belly's pepperbellystx@aol.com where I bought Dirty Jalapeno Olive relish, Texas Candied Jalapenos and Italian Bruschetta. The relish and Jalapenos are delicious mixed into cream cheese and sour cream, served with chips or crackers. Also found a neat little plant stand for the front porch. And of course, it is tradition to buy two bags of Aggie Kettle corn...YUM!

After lunch at Almost Heaven Cafe in Brenham, we went to The Antique Rose Emporium in Independence. I bought a few pots of herbs and found a big pot of Yarrow. I love this frilly, fern like herb, with its delicate flowers. It's a medicinal herb, not for cooking, just enjoying. From there we stopped and took a few Bluebonnet pictures before visiting the Windy Hill Winery http://www.windyhillwinery.net/. After tasting several vitis, I chose the Yellow Rose and Brazos Red.

It was getting a little late in the day but we decided to make a quick stop at Martha's Bloomers in Navasota. http://www.marthasbloomers.com/ before heading home. Although we didn't find anything we just had to have, it is a fun place to visit...lots of plants and garden accessories.

While I was traipsing around shopping and cavorting in the Bluebonnets, my Special Someone, aka Mr. B was riding in the MS 150 bicycle marathon. He gave me a quick call when he made a pit stop along the way. A strong headwind slowed things a bit but bless his heart...he made it to La Grange Saturday night.

They were on the road to Austin by 7:00 am Sunday morning. Long story short, he finished! What a guy!

All in all it was a wonderful day, ya'll!

Making Memories

It's been over a month since I've written a word. I guess that's a good thing, though. I'm finally 'getting a life'...well, besides work, I mean! Let's just say that the Special Someone from Valentine's Day has become even more special. I'll leave it at that before I get all carried away.

Daughter and her family were in from Florida all last week. Baby Jackson is such a miracle! He is the picture of health and cute as can be. The girls are growing up so fast! Elvis loves all the excitement but it makes Presley nervous. He follows me around and whines like a baby the entire time! Anyway, back to the kids, Terri and Jack are amazing parents. I am so proud of the way they are raising their children. We met Mr. Special Someone for lunch one day and a good time was had by all.

I spent Easter with son Darrell and his family. We dyed eggs and did the Easter basket thing. The weather turned cool, cloudy and windy on Sunday. Payton was sick with a cold so we stayed inside and didn't do the Easter Egg Hunt. Jacob and Jared didn't seem to mind. They ate candy and played with the Blooney stuff I put in their baskets. It comes in little tubes with straws and you put a gob on the straw and blow it up into bubbles. My kids used to love that stuff!

I was in College Station this past weekend. The Bluebonnets and other assorted wild flowers were in full bloom all along 290 and Highway 6. It was a short overnight trip but it was nice to get out of the city for a while. I couldn't believe all the new restaurants and shops along University Blvd. We went to TGI Friday's for dinner and later rode around checking things out. We decided not to meet the others later for drinks. I had the sniffles and was ready to kick back for the night.

I'll be back in that direction this coming weekend for The Bluebonnet Festival in Chappell Hill. My gal friend and I went last year and the weather was terrible so we decided to give it another shot this year. The weather guy is predicting sunshine and mild temps this weekend....I hope he's right, for once! That will be good for the riders in the MS 150 too. They head out for Austin Saturday morning.

I stayed in all day today, recovering from all the activity of the past few weeks. My cold is better, but I needed the R & R. I did work on tax stuff some, but other than that, I took the day off. It's back to the World of Hair tomorrow and I'm booked solid...just the way I like it!

That's what I'm all about these days...making memories with those I love and enjoying life.

Ciao for now, Ya'll!

Beautiful Sunday

The Boyz woke me up early! It was a slightly foggy, crisp, cool morning. The moon and a few planets managed to peek through the mist as dawn began to break. As I stood in the middle of the back yard listening to the birds and frogs harmonize, I thanked God once more for His creation and all His blessings.

I hadn't been to church in a few weeks so after I made my coffee and fed the pups I started getting ready. By the time I left the house the fog had lifted and the sun was shining brightly through a few random clouds. The message was simple but so very relevant for this day. It was about being thankful. How cool was that? I had already been thanking Him all morning!!

I had planned to spend the afternoon with my sister and her hubby. Their two grandsons were visiting for the weekend and I wanted to see them. By the time church was over, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I opened the roof of my car, turned up the music and headed for sis's house. Shortly after I arrived, favorite bro in law returned from a spin on his Harley. Well, he knows how I love to ride, so he didn't have to ask me twice to suit up! I threw my half eaten salad in the frige and away we went, headed straight for the toll road. It's close to the house and usually pretty wide open on Sunday. We rode north, all the way to The Woodlands, turned around and went back south towards downtown Houston, made another U-turn, headed toward Beltway 8 and home. It was a 50 mile ride and believe it or not, there is quite a bit of scenery along the toll road.

As we rode along, I couldn't help but think about my mom. She loved to ride, also. I imagined her on the back of a bike, with the sun on her face and wind in her hair...loving every minute of it! I was sure she was looking down from Heaven, getting a kick out of watching me and her beloved son in law tearing down the Hardy toll road on his beautiful orange bike. Yes, Mom was a church-going lady, but she knew how to let her hair down and have fun. More and more, I've come to realize, I truly am my mother's daughter. Thanks Mom, you taught me well!

Let's ride, ya'll!

Valentine's Update

Well, another Valentine's Day has come and gone. I know it's not as big as Christmas or Easter, but I think this day set aside for love is sweet and fun. Even if you don't have someone special, it's still a nice time to send cards and remembrances to friends and family. I sent both my kids and their families a simple Valentine card filled with glittery hearts. The grandkids got a kick out of seeing all those shiney little hearts fall all over the place. I also sent cards and hearts to several of my special gal friends. What fun!

OK, I won't get all mushy..but.. A Special Someone invited me to dinner for Valentine's Day, only we went on Wednesday, the 13th. Cupid, I think you aimed in the right direction!

Everything

You're a falling star

You're the getaway car

You're the line in the sand when I go too far

You're the swimming pool on a August day

You're the perfect thing to say

And you play it coy

But it's kind of cute

When you smile at me, you know exactly what you do

Baby, don't pretend that you don't know it's true

'Cause you can see it when I look at you

And in this crazy life

And through these crazy times

It's you, It's you

Ya make me sing

Your every line

Your every word

You're everything

I love this song by Michael Buble! I didn't include all the lyrics, you'll have to listen for yourself. In fact, the entire CD is awesome. Check it out at http://www.michaelbuble.com/

Love Ya'll!

Valentine's Day

I recently discovered that I have been suffering from 'The Januarys'. I was talking to a friend recently about the general 'blahness' of the first month of the new year. He had heard this malady called The Januarys. It sounded like a fitting description for the blue funk many of us experience this time of year. The weather is cold and nasty and everyone is exhausted and broke from the recent holiday rush. Half of the population has the flu or the sniffles. We all seem to hibernate as much as possible, leaving our homes only when absolutely necessary. And, yours truly didn't even feel like blogging! Most evenings after work, I was curled up on the sofa in front of the TV, trying to get warm. Of course, my faithful pups, Elvis and Presley were always by my side. Those little guys are always ready to snuggle!

Well, it is now February and I have recovered. Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Just walk thru any store. The retailers started putting out all the red hearts right after Christmas. I tried to ignore them but finally decided to get with the program. Even though my *love life* has been rather uneventful the last few years, I still like the general concept of the holiday. As I've said before, my cynical self still holds out hope that Cupid is alive and well, waiting in the wings with his tiny bow and arrow aimed in the right direction!

So, in honor of this sweet Hallmark holiday, I'd like to share a little love trivia with you. I found these tidbits in a cute little book titled 'The Ladies Room Reader' by Alicia Alvarez:

The first known Valentine's Day card was sent in 1415, when the duke of Orleans, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London, sent a love note to his wife. The note is on display today in the British Museum.

Americans send more Valentine's Day cards than on any other holiday except Christmas.

There's an old wives tale that if you want to attract a lover, or to strengthen the love you already have, you should make something by hand and give it to the beloved as a gift. The energy you imbue in the item will bind the person to you.

Ms Alvarez also included a few interesting quotes from some well known ladies:

'Women want mediocre men, and men are working hard to be as mediocre as possible'. Margaret Mead

'The people I am furious with are the women's liberationists. They keep getting up on soapboxes and proclaiming women are brighter than men. That's true, but it should be kept quiet or it ruins the whole racket.' Anita Loos

'During the feminist revolution, the battle lines were again simple. It was easy to tell the enemy, he was the one with the penis. This is no longer strictly true. Some men are okay now. We're allowed to like them again. We still have to keep them in line, of course, but we no longer have to shoot them on sight.'
Cynthia Heimel

These women sound a bit bitter, don't they? Ouchie! But not me! I'm not bitter. I find the opposite sex to be fascinating. I do wonder sometimes what God was thinking when he made these charming creatures. However, In His infinte wisdom, He did put us ladies here to help them. What a divine plan! Now, if they would only listen....but, that's another story. Let's move on.

Oprah Winfrey said: 'Nothing compares to being in love.'

I like this positive statement from Cher too: 'If grass can grow through cement, love can find you anywhere.'

And now, a classic poem from Robert Louis Stevenson:

Love, What is Love

Love, what is love? A great and aching heart;

Wrung hands; and silence; and a long dispair.

Life, what is life? Upon a moorland bare

To see love coming and see love depart.

Of course, the Bible speaks of love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Verse 13 says: 'And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll!

Merry Christmas!

I'm spending Christmas in Florida and will return January 2, 2008.

I hope you all have a holiday season filled with peace, love and joy.

Merry Christmas, Baby!

These pictures captured the boys personalities to a "T". Elvis copped an attitude and a smug look. Presley layed down and pouted. Yes, they are spoiled, as their hats say!

A Wedding Story

Last night I went to the wedding of my friend, Lacey and her fiance Christopher. It was perfectly beautiful and elegant. Lacey looked like a doll...literally. A petite 23 year old blonde, she was a vision of perfection in her strapless fitted gown as her father escorted her to the alter, where her groom awaited. He was attired in a black tuxedo, black shirt and red tie. With a soft glow of candlelight flickering in the background, they joined hands and the ceremony began.

This night was the culmination of a year long courtship and a seven month engagement. Christopher and Lacey met through a mutual acquaintance and began dating. There had been other beaus in Lacey's life, but this one was special. I remember when she told me, 'He's the one' . Her eyes lit up at the mention of his name. The feeling was mutual, because he just shined when he looked at her. They both had stars in their eyes!

Lacey and Christopher chose to do things the old fashioned way. They each remained in their own homes while they were dating. Soon after their courtship began he asked her father for her hand in marriage. Lacey was filled with anticipation as she and Christopher looked for the perfect engagement ring. One evening, after a romantic dinner, Christopher presented Lacey with an exquisite diamond solitaire.

The wedding plans began! What fun it was to hear all the details! Deciding on a date and location for the ceremony was the first of many steps in the planning of the 'wedding of the year'. At last, we were all gathered to witness as they exchanged their vows.

After a romantic honeymoon in Jamaica, the happy couple will begin their life together in their brand new home.

As I sat there in the chapel and witnessed this storybook affair, a tear came to my eye. It was truly the stuff that dreams are made of. This fairytale wedding that every girl dreams of had become a reality for Lacey. Young love is so full of hope and expectation. I wondered, as I watched them dance their first dance as husband and wife... is there any such thing as happily ever after? When do the stars in our eyes become dim? When does the fairytale wedding give way to everyday reality? Surely, this will never happen to Lacey and Christopher!

I know, I sound jaded and a bit cynical...but I haven't given up hope! We just keep chasing that elusive butterfly called love, don't we?

More Kermie

Kermie didn't freeze! I couldn't wait to get home last night and check on my little guy. Around 7:30 I caught him sneaking into his house. It was a warm, sunshiny day so he must have been out doing his froggy thing.