Going Home

People always say that as you grow older you become more and more like your parents. On several occasions as a child, I clearly remember thinking my mom was "wasting" film on the day lilies and other plants she found blooming all over our yard. It seemed so silly to take pictures of flowers! Yet years later on every visit home, I find myself itching to get outside and spend hours of my time walking and photographing these very objects.

Now with my eyes open I see what she was trying to capture: the beauty, variety and wildness of God that is gloriously present in every detail of His creation! How silly of me to misunderstand. Thank you mommy for being you.

Houston Rodeo

Yesterday Jason and I braved the yucky weather to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at Reliant Park. We walked around all afternoon and had a fabulous time! Apparently, it is the largest Rodeo in the world, and there are certainly tons of things to see and do. We walked through the kids AGventure area where there are art and quilt exhibits, a livestock show, and all sorts of animals to see and pet! There was even an educational area with all sorts of rabbits in separate cages, from huge "giants" to tiny little (fullgrown) "dwarf" rabbits - they were adorable! I wish had taken more pictures, but I guess I was just so enthralled with how precious the animals were, that I forgot.

After walking through the Livestock show and past all the clothing, boots, and even furniture vendors, we ventured outside to find something to eat. Much to my delight, one vendor was selling "Chicken on a Stick," which I haven't had for years, but dearly love! Walking through the carnival, we also gave in to buying a fried twinkie...but to tell you the truth, it wasn't nearly as good as I hoped for.

The Rodeo was great! Fast-paced and exciting! And afterward, Tim McGraw performed! I was really impressed with how wonderful his voice sounds in concert. He put on a great show, and I would definitely go back to see him perform again any day!

I would absolutely recommend visiting the Houston Rodeo, but just be sure to visit the bathroom once more after the concert...because you'll be waiting in your car in the parking lot for a very LONG time!

Yes, we stooped so low as to actually consume a fried twinkie....but at least we split it. 

I really wanted one of these!

These...not so much.

Some of the rides were a tad bit scary...

Tim McGraw, Ladies and Gentleman!

Sorry no pictures of us....we were having too much fun! Besides, it was just plain nasty outside.

A New Year, New Beginnings

My mother has always said that on New Years Day you should do just a little of every one thing you hope to do during that next year. Of course in our case, that always implies taking a long walk. To me, walks are a form of exploration. You never know what you might find, see, or experience. Recently, I have begun to take pictures on all my walks back home as a way of documenting to remember once I'm back in Texas. You would think that after photographing or exploring the very same subject over and over again, boredom would surely set in. But it seems that the subject of my home and childhood haunts only grows more enticing. My senses in that place intensify rather than dim, its familiarity breeding contentment and deeper understanding.

I've always loved this grand old magnolia tree. When I was little, my parents used to put me up in it to climb. Now I see it growing older, leaves less vigorous, magnolia buds less full in the spring. A mounting fear rises inside me; this tree may not always stand here. But for now, for today, it is still my tree, and I know it so very well.

Besides the beginning of a new year, new traditions have also begun. Jason's mother, Linda, took us on what will hopefully be our first annual family trip together. This year she chose a place in Montana. It was one of the most spectacular places that I have ever been, and now we have so many beautiful memories all together in that place. 

 

  

  

  

 

Thank you Linda, and all of our family and friends, for the lovely experiences you shared with us over the holidays. You are our most precious treasures.

Blur of Holidays Now Passed

So much time has passed since my last post; I'm not quite sure where to begin. I guess it would make sense to start around Thanksgiving and our trip home to Mississippi. Jason and I seem to be growing more proficient at cramming a ton of events into one visit home. We went to Estill to see Robin and Shearer, ate Thanksgiving day lunch at Nanny and Pappy's, Thanksgiving dinner down at Dockery. We visited at Maw's the day after Thanksgiving and took several walks. Jason went hunting many times. Whew! Looking back, it seems like one intense whirlwind from the beginning of November to now, the end of January! And there doesn't seem to be any letting up. Since there is no way for me to do full postings on each topic and get myself caught up in this new year, I am going to post just a few of the best pictures from several of the things we did.

A trip to Estill, Mississippi, and a walk to explore the Indian mounds on family land. 

 

 My daddy and his cherished friend, Mr. Meme.

  

Jason's grandfather, Pappy, carving the Thanksgiving Turkey.

  

After Thanksgiving lunch on the porch.

  

My cousin Kaela standing next to Frank Michael's car before Thanksgiving dinner at Dockery.

  

Narcissus from a walk at Dockery.

  

Robin's roses growing at Highbank.

Huh and I at her brother Allen's wedding reception.

 

Everyone pitches in to load wood, including little Kaleigh and Karson, at my grandparents' in Leakesville, Mississippi.

  

Jason and my daddy after a successful hunt at Fighting Bayou Hunting Club just days before Christmas.

  

My mama playing her brand new Christmas present from my dad.

  

Mary Grace in her dog suit from Santa on Christmas morning.

  

Regina drinking coffee and waiting for fried oysters on Christmas morning.

Jason and his grandmother on Christmas morning.

  

Ebelskivers, Lane Baxter style!

  

Lane and I in the "little mountain town" (Mountain View, Arkansas) on our trip to Jason's grandparent's cabin.

  

One last picture just before heading home.

More Persimmons, please!

Last Saturday, Jason and I drove all the way to Tomball, TX to pick Asian Fuyu persimmons from Matt Family Orchard. Fall is the season in which they ripen, and I have been looking forward to our trip for weeks! My dear friend Sarah Kindelan Crawford (pictured below) first introduced me to persimmon pickin' several years ago at an orchard near Starkville, MS.

That experience revived in me a love for Asian persimmons which had begun when I was very small. My neighbor, Big Keith, would give us a couple huge persimmons every fall, and I remember them being so delicious. We had persimmon trees all throughout our woods at home, but they were tiny, bite-sized, and often bitter with a large seed in the center. If you have ever bitten into one of those tiny persimmons before they are ripe, it is quite possibly one of the worst tastes you may ever experience. That is because of the high level of tannin in the fruit...sort of like a very, very green banana. It makes your mouth physically shrink up, and you may never be tempted to try another persimmon again. Fuyus on the other hand, are large and sweet, and you can either eat them just like a crisp apple right off the tree, or can wait patiently until they are extremely ripe. Though it's hard to wait, I like them best when they are mooshy and sweet!

Matt Family Orchard has several thousand trees which are apparently about 16 years old, though they are cut back to make it easier for picking. Most of the trees were loaded down with fruit just like this one.

 

We had some competition with the wasps and caterpillars.

Besides Asian persimmons Matt Family Orchard has blackberries, figs, jujube (Asian dates), Asian pears, pumpkins and citrus. I'm already looking forward to going back next year for fruit and a picnic!

Almost a week later, I still have persimmons for days, though I've been eating a ton! Today I made persimmon ice cream by adapting a recipe for pumpkin pie. Sadly, Jason doesn't really like persimmons, so I guess I'll have to eat all of it by myself....darn.