I Miss my Computer AND my Hubby!

I have been without my laptop for a couple of days.  Hubby took it with him on his working travels.  He left me with his computer, but it is set up so differently than mine, I can't even figure out how to download photos on his.  Also, I've been without internet for most of the day.  Bummer. 

I woke up to 74*, 96% humidity weather, and no internet.  Quickly, the temps rose to almost 90*, and Shasta was looking for her doggie daddy.  Upset, she was.  Pacing, going to the door, and once outside, wanting to get in the truck!  She is definitely a little creature of habit. 

We also had another interesting development this morning, but I'll wait until I get my laptop back tomorrow to post about it, and what I had to do to remedy it.  :)

Garden Tuesday

The view from my "yard" around the motorhome here in TX is like this in many areas:
Texas is experiencing the worst drought they've had in a long time. People are praying for rain, literally, but always with the caveat of "but not too much!" Evidently that is a big problem too.
Even with the dry, cracked earth, the trees and the grasses are a beautiful spring green.
For more Garden Tuesday photos, please click the button to head over to Sidewalk Shoes!

All God's Creatures Sunday

The window behind where my laptop sits on the table is large and wide.  I have a wonderful view of trees and green all around us.  As I've mentioned before, luckily nobody is parked too close to us.  But the fifth-wheel that is in my field of vision has been a very busy place indeed.  I watched for about a week and finally decided that I needed to ask the owners if they were aware of what was going on on the back of their rv.
I didn't know how long they would be staying, and I worried about what would happen to the nest when they did leave.  It's so perfectly placed on the rv ladder with support from the second ladder and the protection of the bicycle in front of it.  It was difficult to get a good picture of it because of all that.
The builders of this beautifully designed home?  The mockingbirds.  We've watched them do some display stuff that was interesting and funny. 
Here, they would hop a little, peck at a bug, and spread their wings. Hop, peck, and spread.
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Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Got the Killdeer!

Boy, these guys have been very elusive, and when they are around they're nervous. They, like so many other birds, do not like to have anything (like a camera) pointed at them.
A shorebird you can see without going to the beach, Killdeer are graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, and parking lots. These tawny birds run across the ground in spurts, stopping with a jolt every so often to check their progress, or to see if they’ve startled up any insect prey. Their voice, a far-carrying, excited kill-deer, is a common sound even after dark, often given in flight as the bird circles overhead on slender wings.

I've tried to hear the "kill-deer" in their call, but I just don't. 
I've had a bird feeder hung for about a week. The birds have so many bugs to eat right now that I've only had one taker.
A little male house finch in his finest, come hither, red coat!

Where was I Wednesday?

Where was I in 1981 when THIS was going on???  I am sooo loving this right now!

Garden Tuesday

This talks to me about the hope of spring. Every few days there is something new to see; a new plant, new bird, a new flower,
if we just take the time to notice.

For more garden photos, and to possible link up yourself, check this out!

All God's Creatures Sunday

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is 14 inches long (36 cm), of which more than half is a very long and deeply forked black and white tail. The adult has bright salmon-pink sides and belly with a head, upper back, and breast that is pale grayish white. Young birds are similar, but have a shorter tail and lack bright pink on sides and belly.
Life History
These striking flycatchers attract the attention of the most casual passerby. They are especially numerous in southern Texas, and may be seen on fence posts and wires along the roadside. They are noisy and aggressive, sometimes chasing birds much larger. In the spring, their performance with their long scissor-like tail, is part of the courtship performance.


The nesting habits for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher include a bulky stick nest lined with soft fibrous material in an isolated tree where five creamy, brown-spotted eggs are layed.


These birds capture their food on the wing and their diet includes many insects harmful to agriculture.
Habitat
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher may be seen in the open country along roadsides perched on fence posts and utility wires. Also they can be found on ranches with scattered trees and bushes.

As we move our way across Texas, I'm happily discovering birds that I've never seen before.  What a difference a hundred miles can make.  Back in Columbus, the bird we saw the most was cardinals.  I even saw a Bald Eagle there!  Here it's mockingbirds, and, boy, are they busy.  I watched a couple perform some kind of dance with each other for a couple of days.  Twitterpated, right?

This guy was a nice surprise for me.  We've also seen a pair of Kildeer here as well, but I have yet to get a picture of them!

What's for Dinner?

I have to say, it is always an adventure come dinner time around here.  Hubby sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night wondering what we're going to have the next day.  Hehehe. 

I've learned to be much more adventurous in the last 17 years just being around him.  I've tried escargot, alligator on a stick, and dim sum (some of which I cannot fathom what they were!)

But tonight...
Mud bugs. Crayfish. Crawfish. And no, I didn't catch them outside the mh. We bought them already cooked outside of the grocery store. A great big bag of them, since the part that you actually eat (the tail) is such a small portion. Inside the grocery store, there was a huge vat of live crawfish that I wish I hadn't seen. Creeped me out. I hope I don't have bad dreams about them.  These are usually boiled in a cajun crab boil seasonings, along with potatoes and corn on the cob. 

Here's my dilemma. What is the easiest way to eat them? Head and body twist off easily, and no, I will not suck on that part like some people do. Ew. The hard part is getting the tail out. The shell is amazingly strong! The girl that cut my hair the other day said she just squeezes the tail and it slips right out. Um, no they don't. Any ideas?

Thankful Thursday

So, so much to be thankful for this week.  We have been crazy busy with work!  So busy that it's hard to keep track of everything.  I am not complaining AT ALL!  The price of diesel is rising & we'll be putting on some miles this summer.  I'm also thankful that our clients are still putting their faith in us that we can provide them with excellent service even though we're so far away from them. 
Those people ROCK!

One of my sons was up against a deadline to find a new place to live.  That was very worrisome for a while, but he is all tucked in to his new place, and I think it is a good move for him.  Yes, thankful!

But my gratitude explodes with my next bit of news...I not only have one grandchild coming, but TWO!  Due dates three days apart!  I can't even put in to words the wonder, love, and excitement that I'm feeling these days.  Yes, I felt it when I had my three kids certainly, but to have another opportunity like this is such a blessing.

I think I've shared before that three generations in my family (my mother, brother, and son) all have birthdays on the same day.  Well, this due date is ever so close to that date.  I wonder....:)

Garden Tuesday

When we arrived here in Lake Conroe Thousand Trails the other day, this was our view.
We like to sit off by ourselves a bit. We do our best communicating in the early evening, sitting outside, discussing the kids, work, and our life. So a little space from everyone else is a good thing.

When we got up the next morning and looked outside, I was surprised at the difference in the view!
No, we didn't have anyone closer to us, but now we had flowers everywhere. By afternoon they were gone again, closed to the heat of the day, but back again in the morning.
I've noticed that in the grass is plenty of clover flowers; remember the kind that you had to be careful running through barefoot as a kid because you could get stung by a bee? No honey bees here. Not one bee anywhere. That's disturbing.

On a happier note, please check out Garden Tuesday over at Sidewalk Shoes!

All God's Creatures Sunday

There are quite a few of these around the outer edge of this park, where we are located by the way. I was worried at first about what might be living in there.
Then it dawned on me that this might belong to mud daubers! I wonder if each of those little round balls of mud contain an egg? A while back, I read that mud daubers lay their egg and find a little spider to put in with the egg so that when the egg hatches it will have the spider to eat.  Clever, don't you think?  If anyone knows what this truly is...please share!
On another note, we were walking Shasta not far from the mh, and came across this little pond.
I know the sign says Bass Lake, but it's really just a little pond, chock full of these!
Turtles! As many little heads as we saw that kept popping up and down, there must be gobs of them in there.

Hello Lake Conroe!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Arrived safe and sound in Conroe, TX.  Very different landscape here.  Still very green at the moment, but with many more trees.  You know I'll be sharing those photos with you.

But for now, and why I'm so thankful.  Yes, because we arrived safely, but also because I was driving and had to get in to a left lane in a hurry (well, as much of a hurry as you can in a 40' building, towing a full sized truck).  As I was moving over, a motorcycle sped by me on the left.  I DID NOT SEE HIM ANYWHERE!  I realized what an awful disaster I had barely avoided.  Thank you God!

Me:

Where are we Wednesday

One more day in Columbus, TX.
Notice the full pregnant bellies of some of the mamas.  I think they usually deliver in May or June.

The deer have been different here in the Colorado River Thousand Trails. There are signs everywhere asking people to not feed them. It creates a gross imbalance and I'm just not sure it's good to have them be so friendly with us humans. Yes, I have been blessed to be up close to them in Lake Medina, having them eat right out of my hand. But in this park, this way in their standoffishness (is that a word?), seems right and natural.

We're heading to Conroe, TX in the morning. It's about 75 miles northeast of where we are now. I look forward to our new surroundings, but I'm definitely going to miss this place!

Garden Tuesday

This is what it's all about right now.  It's a flurry of activity, everyone flying around with purpose.  Everybody busy building their nests.

A bit of sun and warm weather energizes us as well, doesn't it?  Being on the road, not having a garden this year will be hard.  Normally I'd be planning, planting, fertilizing.  I found myself pulling weeds next to the motorhome a few days ago.  I can't seem to help myself.  I may have to buy myself a hanging plant to hang outside to take care of.   Maybe a big pot of petunias!  :)

Jump in to Garden Tuesday over at Sidewalk Shoes!

All God's Creatures Sunday

I can't believe how many cardinals are in this area!
So many, that it's like living in a fairytale where, of course, all of the birds would be bright red!
They are very busy building nests in the thicket behind the motorhome.

Coming out of the activity center at the park the other day, I noticed a male cardinal flying at the side mirror on our truck. They're very territorial during mating season, and will attack another male in their "hood." I'm sure he's exhausted by the end of the day! He can never get rid of that other bird in the mirror!

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday!