One of the things I’m finding particularly exciting this spring is discovering what plants we have on our property. We first saw it in the dead of winter covered with a year’s worth of fallen leaves. (The fallen leaves from 47 pecan, several oak, a few hackberry, and handful of various fruit trees, and a couple of crepe myrtles, mind you!) Over the last few months we’ve literally been able to watch as various plants and trees, each in its time and season, rise from a long winter’s sleep, and burst into bloom (or leaf) of some sort! It seems as though there is something new every day. Last week when I got home from work, Kevin made me close my eyes and led me out to the east side of the yard. Seemingly overnight two, what were rather plain trees, had opened dozens of beautiful purple blooms! I think it’s some sort of Hibiscus!?
Friday night we set up camp out in the pasture and lounged around roasting “snores and smarshmellows” (as the bobbins call them) with friends. I forgot how sickeningly sweet smores are! We allowed the six kids to “rough it” - They started out the night in the tent, but early Saturday, around 5:30 am, Kevin rolled over to find Skylar’s face inches away, standing by our bed. He sent her to her bed just as I was awakened by noises from the den. I walked out to find Mary, Gabriella, and Luke carrying in Eliana, Elijah, and a box full of chicks. It was lightening and they decided to come in and crash in the den. I love how responsible they were with their “no child, animal (real or stuffed) left behind” mentality! Even Jay Jay (stuffed family member) made it back into the house before the sprinkles started! Kevin and I got up and put the fly on the tent and battened down the hatches.
As we fell back into bed, we heard this scratching noise and followed it to the kid’s bathroom – the noise was coming from under the tub. We opened the access panel, cautiously. From the noise level and number of pecan shells that were back there it was easy to deduce we have a squirrel that likes to have breakfast under there. With the number of pecan trees surrounding us, wouldn’t you imagine an over run of squirrels? To date, we haven’t seen many… just two on the east side… and now this!
Also on Friday, we saw the first tarantula of the season, followed by a second on Saturday. I guess I had anticipated some “cree-chas” but not necessarily those! I felt somewhat better after we read that their bite isn’t really harmful to humans, unless you have an allergy, but that doesn’t make them any less creepy!
One of the cuter moments of the weekend involved walking in on six kiddos, ages 6 to 13, “taking tea” around my dining room table. I can’t remember all the names but the ones I do are Mr. Gladiolus (Luke), Miss Iris, Mr. James Green (Elijah), Miss Rosemary, and Miss Sunflower…
Saturday evening we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset and dinner around the campfire with friends again – and in addition to the delightful company, we were enthralled by one expert story teller! I had goosebumps most of the night, or as Anne (of Green Gables) would say, “Deliciously scared!” (Diana: “Oh, Anne, I’m scared.” Anne: “So am I. Deliciously scared. Mrs. Hammond said she once felt the ghost of a murdered child creep up behind her and lay its icy fingers on her hand.” –-- *Nostalgic pause* - Okay, moving on!)
What I love about our place is that you can wear your swimsuit and shorts and work around the farm, jumping in the pool every little bit to cool off – it really helps in the sweltering heat of Texas! Otherwise you’d find yourself completely zapped of energy after the first couple of hours – if that!
On Father’s Day we went to brunch and gave Kevin his presents (power tools and a framed pic of the kids). Then we stopped by the Trader’s Village to pick up some fleur de lis iron hooks for the butcher block so we can discretely hang the dishtowels. It was so bloomin’ hot we made a beeline for the booth and only stopped to look at the puppies on the way out.
Monday came too soon as it always does. As we were getting ready for work, a storm (which was not in the forecast as of yesterday) came up so quickly we only noticed because the morning sky grew dark and the trees came alive – I had just finished dressing, and we had to run out in the storm to check on the tent, but alas! it was already blown over. We grabbed the chicks, who were frightened and had hunkered down into a corner, just as the sky let loose. By the time we made it in, we were both completely drenched. We got ready for work a second time and made our way down the road. Another weekend in the books, another work week ahead…
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