Starting 2009

These pictures aren't from the last freeze, they are from the first one, January 5, 2009. Ah, the start of a new year. I took about 10 pictures before that bulb turned on in my head and I started using the flash to get that reflection of the ice. It was a windy night when the temperature fell below 32 degrees and the rain froze showing us in which direction the wind was blowing.

All the trees had ice on them but there was none on the road or drive way. Even the grass had very little ice on it. Our flags were frozen. The sky looked so gray.

I love the glimmer the ice gave off when I used the flash.

Sister didn't mind the cold weather. She spent most of her time chewing on the ice that formed on the fence. Sarah and Sister spent all day running around the yard, I put hay in all three dog houses to keep them warm. I guess they spend very little time in the houses. I could hear them barking most of the night and day. Usually from five in the morning to about eight they stay inside the houses. When I take Izma and Fifi out the others come running from their houses.

That's their pen area. They ate the wooden door so now they come and go as they please. Each house faces a different direction so they pick which house they sleep in according to which way the wind is blowing.

I took out my tripod and took a picture of myself. I was dressed very warm.

That night we put on the fire place and spent an evening by ourselves... and the inside dogs. Izma got the best spot in the house. Fifi has a lap magnet, she's going to attach herself to someones lap as soon as she can.

Two weeks later we had beautiful weather. Carlos came to town and we started to build the raised gardens for Elfida. She wanted tall post so I can put chicken wire around them to keep the dogs from eating her plants. She had spanked Sister for pulling out her rose bushes.

We had plenty of unwanted help while we worked. Boy it was a sunny cool day. Just perfect for working outside. We worked until my drill ran out of juice. By this time my two helpers were hungry so we called it a day.

Elfida was taking pictures and called Sister so she could get a nice picture of her. Well, Sister was still not happy about getting spanked. This is the "go to h...." look she gave Elfida. Later on we found out why she was so teed off at Elfida.

See the cattle, they come right up to the fence and the dogs bark and run and bark. The cows don't care any more. But see Sarah on the right. She is pulling on a little hackberry tree growing on the fence. She's the one that pulled out the rose bushes!!! Look at sister diming her out. Elfida refused to apologize to Sister.

Well, after working so hard we needed a Texas size meal. Carlos and Elfida went to Whataburger to get us dinner. Carlos was showing off his Chrome rims.

Elfida went with him while on Saturday when he was pricing the rims. Oh yeah, he likes them.

See that shine! One big sparkle! This here is Ford country. Carlos left the following day and Maiko came over in the morning to help finish the raised gardens. It was still too cold so I told him to take a nap in the guest bedroom and we would get to work in the afternoon. About one in the afternoon we went out and worked till he had to go pick up his girls from school. I figured I would pick up dog poop from the backyard while he was gone. I don't like the soft squish of doggy surprise on my feet. Well, I pulled a back muscle while picking up poop with a shovel. I missed four days of work and fell two weeks behind on the gardens. I told Aaron about pulling my back muscle while picking up dog poop and he told me I shouldn't let that poop get to where it's to heavy to pick up!!

The next time all three of my boys are in town, I am going to have a poop picking party for them!

Life's reflections

Sometimes I would like to see a different colored sky. Just for change, just for a minute.

You walk through life for years. Always able to look back and see where you have been but you never know where that road ends. Or when it will end. You never know for sure how much longer you will travel on it. Is there a place you will get to or does the line just end nowhere?

Sand like years just pile up, covering up some of our failures and some of our successes. We know they are there but others will never see them. I know that power pole was not set that low. So many years ago, so much sand blown around it.

" Oh the wonders that I find

In the playground in my mind

In a world that used to be

Close your eyes and follow me

Where the children laugh and the children play

And we sing a song all day."
by Clint Holmes - from "Playground in my mind"

Some times we hit some big bump as we travel the road of life. Some of us worry ourselves till we're sick. And then there are those who take it all in stride. They get locked up for something, and they accept it. Just enjoy the outside air whenever you're allowed outside. Sit and watch for a while.

And those of us who worry about life? Well, sooner or later we find a reflecting pool. Some sit down and enjoy the moment.

Me, I find a pretty lady and ask her to sit by that reflecting pool. I take a picture.

Then I sit by that pretty lady and ask a friend to take our picture. Preserve the moment. Years from now, I will look at it and remember the sun's warmth on my arms, the fresh smell of green grass, and the pretty lady by my side.

And life goes on. Some memories can be recreated again. Like the childhood pleasure of swinging on a tire. Ah, warm, warm sunshine on my face.

Sometimes you have to share with a friend a little bit of the knowledge you have. You have to lend your favorite toy to your friend too, so you can be in the picture. Sam is a quick learner. Great picture.

"If I had a day that I could give you

I'd give to you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing for you

I'd sing a song to make you feel this way."

by John Denver - from "Sunshine on my shoulder"

We spent an eternity on a merry-go-round. The old years drifted away. floated to an era of long ago. A care free world where mother's arms could heal all injuries, warm any cold night and dad's presence would ward off all danger.

So we went round in circles. The sun revolved around us. Until the shadows started to grow. Now with eyes open the years came back but that old feeling lingered. Got up. walked away.

A purple sky with a crescent moon. A different colored sky, just for a moment.

Did you ever read a H. P. Lovecraft story? Maybe they were here....

My favorites

Christmas was just a few days aways. "The night before Christmas" book was brought out once more. This was Carlos' book. He probably doesn't remember it. It was read to Isabelle when she was little. Now it was Lilly's time to learn the story. Her face filled with awe, she was full of wonder and so impressed with Santa bringing presents. She wanted to know how come there were presents under the Christmas tree already. "Those are for the grown ups. Santa brings the presents for the little children."

This is probably one of the most spoiled dogs living. She thinks she owns the house. Any dog, no matter how big is challenge as soon as it gets near her. She has chased dogs as big a dobermans. She is queen of the house.

This is my niece, Lulu, and her mom, Aide. Aide is Jose, my oldest brother. One mom and daughter moment captured as a digital image.

This Holly my nephew Alex's wife. I added texture to the photo and thought it looked very good. I sent a copy to my brother and he emailed me back that the picture hadn't come out right.

There are other photos I took that I liked but I have already posted them.

Mosheim Texas Trip

On January 3, 2008, we embarked on another unstructured road trip. We left home at 09:30 AM en route to McGregor, Texas. Only 16 miles from home, but a town we had visited only twice before. Some old buildings still stand, but too many have been renovated and in the process lost some of their beauty.

Some of the small town charm is still there, easy to recognize the football pride. This mural downtown was done very well by some very talented painter. Nothing else could show how big a part of small town life high school football is.

The real reason we went to McGregor was to eat at Papi Taco. Our friends the Olvera's had opened their restaurant a few years back. Toño recognized the cooking talent his wife had and invested his money on her ability cook some excellent meals. We were hungry and knew that whatever we ate for breakfast would have to hold us until late in the afternoon. I had the "guevos rancheros" excellent! Dora, Sam and Elfida had the "menudo". I usually finish off whatever Elfida doesn't eat, well not that day. She ate all of her breakfast, said it was some of the best menudo she ever eaten. Papi Taco is located at 809 S. Main St. If you make it McGregor before 0200 PM, stop by and enjoy some real Mexican food.

As we meandered through the narrow roads and forgotten towns southwest of Waco we arrived at Mosheim, Texas, in late afternoon. We saw the old school even before we turned on to highway 217, okay, we were on highway 217 but it makes a 90 degree turn or it actually becomes highway 215 past the intersection and the road that hits perpendicular to what was highway 217 becomes highway 217.

It must have been a beautiful school. The building was huge and it had a strange resemblance to the Alamo. It was asymmetrical and we would learn from one of its alumni that the adjoining wings were added later on. It is now in very bad conditions and close to collapsing. The grounds around it are kept mowed and clean of any trash.

This building is located behind the main building. The water tank appears to belong to the school. This building also has the structure of a school building or possibly an administration building.

This is the front of the School, while we were there another vehicle pulled up. I thought is was someone coming to tell us to stay out of the building, but it turned out to be a very nice woman there to take pictures of the building. She was very friendly and told us that she graduated from this school in the early sixties. The school housed 1st grade through 12th grade. It never graduated very big senior classes, some years six some years less.

I counted eight fire places. The fire places must have originally been the sole heating source for the school. In this picture you can see how well the property is taken care off. Very clean. I think the building is beyond repair now, but its beauty is still apparent.

The front immediately brought the Alamo to mind when I drove upon it. At some point some renovations were done to it. We were told by our new friend from Mosheim that the stairs were originally located towards the center entrance but now they are to the left of the main entrance. There was also a gymnasium detached from the building which was torn down somewhere along its history.

While we were standing in front talking to the Mosheim alumni we were so lucky to meet, another lady walked over. She told us she had graduated in 1947 from this school. She remembered the school went only to the 11th grade back then. I wish we could have stayed longer and talked more to our new found friends, but it the shadows were already getting long, our one indicator on this unstructured trips that time for heading home is getting close. Our two friends stayed to look at the school and we said goodbye, starting our drive towards Valley Mills.

This is Highway 217 going towards Valley Mills. Just down the road, some more Mosheim High alumni were planning their next reunion. Go Mosheim Mohawks!!

This lonely feline guards the school. It watched us from that window ledge, but when we got too close it jumped into the building from where it could watch us and still feel safe.

Dora and Elfida wait for me to take my last picture. We took off for Valley Mills and then got into a discussion as to whether we were going in the right direction. We knew we were on Highway 217 but then we had turned left at the intersection. We had to be on another highway now. So we turned back and got to the intersection, but weren't we suppose to turn here? We drove back and verified with the two ladies whether we were on the right road to Valley Mills. We were assured that we were on the right road. It wasn't until I got home and Googled Mosheim, Texas, that I realized how Highway 217 turns 90 degrees and what continues on straight becomes Highway 215.

We arrived in Waco at 0700 PM, hungry and tired. Our first stop was at Logan's for dinner, then home to look at the pictures taken during this trip and finally to bed. I will post pictures of some of the other places we visited later on.