The Rain, The Park, And Other Things

Flowers in her hair, 

Flowers everywhere… 

It’s amazing what a little rain can do out here in the dessert! It doesn’t mean we are out of the drought by any means. But it’s so nice to see green everywhere, and some colorful flowers, wild or not.

An oasis or a mirage? A secret spot at the ranch!

The duck found it!

Blooming cactus...or cactus blooming!

With temperatures already breaking into three digits, it won’t last unless it really rains. Not just a little either. We need a substantial rain.

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_south.htm

Until then, enjoy some pictures of spring. After a little moisture, that is!

The Mesquite tree budding is the sign spring is really here.

Somewhere along the highway on the way to Austin.

Are they Poppies? I don't know.

This is what the flower looks like up close.

Yellow flowers on the highway.

Can you see the 'bug' on the flower? Don't know how I captured that!

Sunflower? Yellow Daisy? Black Eye Susan?

Another 'wild flower' or weed...depending on your perspective.

Trumpet vine on my deck. Blooming!

Bluebonnets on the highway by the house

We really think we 'planted' these Bluebonnets by the highway by the house. One year we spent a LOT of money on wildflower seeds. Those suckers are expensive! The front acres were plowed and the seeds were planted. It doesn't rain much out here but when it does? It's what they call a gully washer! That means it rains really fast filling up ditches and flooding the road and land. All of the sowed seeds washed down the road and into the bar ditch. Did anything come up at the house? Nope. But all down the road there were assorted new flowers. The Bluebonnets come out in a little patch about a half mile down the way. They are over a little bump so you have to know where to look. The patch has steadily expanded. Most of the others didn't last but the Bluebonnets return every year.

They bloom even in the dessert. With a little water!

State flower of Texas!

They are a lot prettier in the Hill Country at my friend Beverly's house!

Not my picture. Picture taken on Mach Rd, on the Bluebonnet Trail near Ennis, TX by David and Eileen Ng

Even the ordinary weeds are viewed as wild flowers out here

And all I had left was one little flower in my hand...

On the knitting front, I finished the Small Shawl. I think I keep calling it a Simple Shawl, but the pattern is really called Small Shawl. It is simple though! Just no-brainer garter stitch in a rayon boucle yarn, although any yarn will work. I think maybe I’ll start a crochet project next, just for something different.

I like this as a scarf.

Shawl draped. Looks light and lacy. Look here for other creative ideas!

I finished a book called ‘Thai Die’, by Monica Ferris. It’s part of a series with a a needlework shop owner, Betsy Devonshire, being the amateur sleuth who solves the crimes. In this story, one of the ‘Monday Bunch’ regulars has just returned from a trip to Thailand. She brings back souveniers and gifts for her friends. She’s also agreed to deliver a small statue of a Buddha to an antique store back home and shows the gang. This kind gesture leads to adventure, robbery, theft, a blizzard and a giant angora rabbit! It was entertaining with enough action to keep it interesting.

Thai Die. See what others are reading here.

I’m off to look through the yarn stash to find something bright and pretty. Maybe something that looks like flowers.

Wow! Where did all this come from? DFW Fiberfest!

This is cheerful!

From two if by hand at the DFW Fiber Festival.

I love the flower girl.

Was she reality or just a dream to me?

On The Road Again

When you live out here you find out quickly that anywhere you want to go requires a drive. I drive almost 100 miles a day just to go to work. School activities are, on a quick trip, at least 100 miles. The real grocery store is 40 miles away. It’s just a fact of life.

It’s interesting how people measure distance out here. For instance, instead of my 45 mile trip to work it’s 45 minutes to work. It takes four hours to get to San Antonio. It takes six hours to get to Austin. I’m not sure why it’s measured in time instead of distance. Distance is a lot more accurate.


The drive to San Antonio is a solitary drive. There’s not much to see but wide open spaces. When you get closer to the Hill Country there are green rolling hills. And the wildflowers are amazing. It’s pretty here this time of year.


Lady Bird Johnson is probably the reason we see wildflowers blooming along the highways. I don’t know if the wildflowers are a national thing but its fact here in Texas. The Beautification Act of 1965 was a result of Mrs. Johnson’s campaign. Known as “Lady Bird’s Bill” because of her active support, the legislation called for control of outdoor advertising and encouraged scenic enhancement and roadside development. When the wildflowers are blooming there is no mowing in the median or on the side of the highway. Wildflowers are probably just weeds. But they brighten up an otherwise somewhat boring drive.

On the knitting side, I’m keeping up with knit a year, as far as the knitting goes. I need to schedule my time so that I can write about it more often. I am keeping track though.

Monday was a frisky day. Strawberries, chocolate, champagne and leopard print. Enough said! The yarn is a novelty yarn from a magic ball exchange. It is leopard colors with gold and silver threads included. It’s fun. Tuesday was a generally bad day. Work related. Black eyelash yarn. Wednesday was the drive to San Antonio. Purple and green variegated for the wildflowers and green grass and trees. I enjoy the sight.

Today is a bright green handspun with touches of pink and yellow. It’s a Fiesta yarn and is so San Antonio. This trip has been fun so far and it’s definitely a fun yarn!

Tomorrow is the drive home. I’ll be…

Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again.