If I were to call them by name they would not reply.
See, they are wild and untamed without need of a name for (in truth) they answer to no one.
The State Flower of Texas
Texas Wildflowers
postaweek
Weekly Photo Challenge: Change
Weekly Photo Challenge: Change
A few shots from last weeks trip to the southern end of the Colorado River. It was a welcomed change except for the cold front, I could’ve done without that. Thankfully the chilly gloom was short lived.
A change in scenery. Ahhh.
A change in the weather. Arrggh.
The change left over from the trip. Oh well.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Color
Oxalis and G-ma’s
Sun Set on Oxalis
My grandmothers are deceased but I still think of them often. As a matter of fact thinking of them prompted this post. I was sitting here nibbling on a handful of wild clover (Oxalis to be exact) and thought first of my maternal grandmother. I loved them equally yet they were as different as night and day.
It’s funny how certain things send us flying back in time where we awake to find ourselves strolling down memory lane.
My mom’s mother was somewhat prissy and constantly scolding me for eating wild things. If she didn’t know what it was I wasn’t allowed to eat it. “Mustang grapes and blackberries are okay but everything else is poisonous.” she warned. I didn’t care much for either and I generally ignored her warnings, tasting every berry and leaf I came across. It drove her to fits.
Once she threatened to tan my hide if I ate from the Black Persimmon tree behind the house. I of course did exactly that when she wasn’t looking. The soft shiny berries were too irresistible. To my surprise she wasn’t angry; I suppose she laughed so hard she made herself tired after seeing my lips and teeth stained black.
My paternal grandmother on the other hand would cook, can or consume just about anything that grew, moved or acted like it wanted to bite. (Yes, that one)
After I had settled down and started a family she would sometimes visit. We would walk through the woods in search of an undiscovered herb or animal. She’d scan the ground for changes and jab her cane in every hole until a rabbit ran out and she’d say, “Lookie there Jennavenay- there goes supper.” And we would laugh.
We ate a lot of wild vegetation throughout our years together. We didn’t know the benefit or threat or even the name of most of the wild plants but we learned to avoid the ones that tasted bad. Our walk always ended with her sitting by a large Oak and saying, “This is how I want to die. Like an old Indian I’m gonna set down against this tree and just pass away.” She wasn’t an Indian and that isn’t how she left this world. But that’s how it goes. Life, bittersweet like the Oxalis.
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Marching Into Spring
If the old folks in East Texas are right we will have another cold snap so don’t plant your tomatoes yet. I’m not in any hurry, after all we are just getting to the Ides of March and the Spring Equinox is still a week away. What does all of that mean? I could write about it but I’m afraid it would bore you straight to death and I don’t want to be listed on your death certificate as the official cause so how about I show you some pictures instead? Okay! Moving right along…
From the Bluebird outside my window.
Jonquils
Looks like me without coffee.
Pretty purples
The Eight Spotted Forester Moth
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details
I have been busy – I mean crazy busy! Or maybe I’m feeling lazy and every little thing feels like a huge undertaking? No, I’m going with the crazy busy but that doesn’t relieve me from commitments. I made a commitment (if only to myself and my mother) to participate in the weekly photo challenge and by golly the show must go on! Besides, these challenges give me a reason to take a break from the mundane and enjoy what others have to offer. As I a writer I’m prone to get so involved in writing and research and blah blah blah that I forget life’s fundamentals. Not just the bathing and eating, I forget to do that all the time. Sometimes I literally forget to breathe… to get up and take a walk… to look outside the scenes inside my head. That’s when Honey (aka my husband) steps in and performs CPR.
My chaos is no more trying than the next persons and probably less than many. The world is spinning faster for everyone and we hamsters must pick up the pace. We must also admit when it’s just a tad too much and relinquish the wheel or the camera in this case.
So, without further ado I present Honey’s take on this week’s photo challenge: Lost in the Details.
Finding Myself lost in the details.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Forward
This week’s photo challenge is titled FORWARD not foreword as in preface, prologue or introduction although I am prone to confuse the two or is it too? It’s two.
The pictures should convey what forward means to the photographer. I considered a covenant i.e. a contract or an agreement (since I couldn’t use an overview) but those definitions didn’t inspire a snapshot. Maybe an advance like a picture of a million dollar check? Yeah, right. How about the front of an object? No that won’t do. Think (I said to self) forward as in opposite of reverse. And voila! It was as simple as going for a ride.
Construction is moving forward.
This is more of a standstill.
Which way should we go???
Away from the city. Onward ho! Mush mush!
Some move faster than others.
Leaning forward & rural construction. They call it progress.
Growing forward on a quiet country lane. (The tree & pole seems to be reaching for one another)
Well phooey! It may look like the end of the road to some…
I call it an adventure. It’s not IF we are going forward but HOW. 🙂
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Keep moving forward.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss
This weeks photo challenge is Kiss
I had almost decided to pass on the weeks photo challenge but Sunday some of the family were standing around watching Cameron retrieve a tennis ball from the roof (yeah, that’s how we play) and the idea struck me. “Hey! Y’all start kissing” I said as I readied my camera. Of course they all gave me a wary look and mumbled amongst themselves with lifted eyebrows. “It is for this week’s photo challenge” I explained. They sighed a unified ohhh, stepped back a few feet and crossed their arms. I think I would have gotten better results if the challenge had been show me your naked butt. I considered using the kiss and make up card but there was no circumstance to warrant such harsh punishment. I was left with nothing but kiss my… when Cameron (now off of the roof) went in to action. He is my partner in pictures and has helped me more than once with a photo challenge. We all know he loves to take pictures but [hApPy dance] he also takes direction well. “Work it Cam. Worrrkk it.”
Happy Kisses
Kisses to comfort and bless.
Brace yourself. The Kissing Bandit
Playful Pecks
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Home
The Home Inside My Home
The home depicted here is only one of many inside the house where I dwell. After all I do did have a sign that says Mi casa es su casa.
The lamp (filled with moth carcasses and webs) might be witness to my housekeeping but I prefer to see it as testament to my many philosophies. Live and let live. Live and let the spider have the lamp. Live and let the over abundant population of moths sacrifice themselves. Live and hope the spider never comes out of the lamp…
There is no place like home.
Two bedroom web for rent.
Dining in.
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Crazy Conversations (Moe I’m Dying)
Cotton, peas, your friends, your seat, your nose… There are a lot of things you can pick. Family isn’t one of them. Disclaimer: Life is crazy, people are crazier and my family… well they get the crazy award if there is one. This is a work of ‘true fiction’ inspired by family. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. CAUTION: They cuss.
Moe, I’m Dying
Pippin: I got my lab reports in from the doctor. There’s an H beside half of them, what does that mean?
Kit: High. H means high, L means low.
Pippin: I know that! What do these numbers say about my health?
Kit: Ask your doctor. I forgot to lay anything out- what do you want to eat?
Pippin: I don’t know. Answer the door.
Kit: You answer the door, I’m busy.
Pippin: Come on in man. Did you hear the bad news? I just got handed a death sentence… Moe, I’m dying.
Kit: Do you want chicken or pork chops for dinner?
Pippin: I’m dying and she wants to know if I want pork chops for dinner. Do you see what I’m dealing with Moe?
Kit: We have left over pork chops. They smell a little funny but I think they’ll be okay if I rinse the sticky stuff off.
Pippin: It ain’t bad enough the pork is killing me slowly; she has to add ptomaine to the mix. Have you ever had ptomaine poisoning Moe? It’s bad, real bad. You’ll have to watch that when I’m gone, don’t eat anything around here or you’ll be a goner just like me.
Kit: Okay would you rather have the chicken? It’s still frozen but I could microwave it for a minute or two then fry it.
Pippin: Did you hear that Moe? My only alternative is a radioactive chicken. Not only will it be full of cancer causing radiation but she’s going to boil it in oil so she can finish me off.
Kit: I’m not boiling it in oil, I’m frying it.
Pippin: What’s the difference? My arteries don’t know the difference. My cholesterol is 5000 and you want to argue?
Kit: Oh, you’re talking to me now?
Pippin: See Moe, she’s hoping I’ll get mad and have a heart attack right here in front of her. You’ll have to call 911 – she won’t do it.
Kit: Stop telling him that! You are not dying.
Pippin: I’ve got high blood pressure-”
Kit: And your cholesterol is not 5000, there’s no such thing. No one has ever had cholesterol that high.
Pippin: Don’t listen to her Moe. Look at this here report. I’ve got high pressure, high sugar, high triglycerides…
Kit: You’ve got high hopes too if you think that dog gives a hoot about all of your ailments. Moe, you want a pork chop?
Pippin: Now she’s just trying to hurt my feelings. You love me don’t you Moe? Come back here. Moe heel! Moe… Moe? Dammit Moe you know I’m dying.
The Real Janna Hill in 