My Little Ducklings

These past few months I have had the privilege of teaching a group of 14 three-year-old kids at the Mothers Day Out program at our church. Here are my favorite pictures of each child. I am going to miss them so much!!

Marburger Farm Antiques Show

Sometime last year I was introduced to the Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, TX, through Jason's aunt Sandra. She read about it in a magazine and thought it would be fun to go someday. This past month Marburger Farm was mentioned in Martha Stewart Living as one of the premier antique shows in the country. So Jason and I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about.  

Round Top is about two hours northwest of Sugar Land, so we got up early Saturday morning, the last day of the show, to get there just as it started. The drive was quiet and mysterious as we entered the beautiful Texas Hill Country. I was scanning for bluebonnets everywhere, as this is their peak time of year, but because of a deep fog shrouding the scenery, all we could see were tiny glimmers and hints of landscape. The closer we got to where Round Top was supposed to be, the more mystified we grew. Where were all the cars that should be driving to this wonderful show? We seemed to be the only ones on the road. We had postponed our trip to Saturday, waiting for the weather to clear, and now this. But suddenly, as in a story...we came over one last hilltop, and the fog lifted revealing a beautiful and bright sunshiny day! Almost immediately we came to an intersection, falling in behind a line of cars surely heading to Marburger.

 :) sorry jj, couldn't resist

Jason and I restrained ourselves and only bought two precious little metal biscuit cutters, though we spent the whole day looking until we were plum worn out! All that hard work gave us the excuse to stop on our way home in the small town of Brenham, which is home to the famous BlueBell Homemade Ice Cream, "better by a country smile!" Of course we headed straight to their factory to get a scoop. This adorable little boy was so wrapped up in his ice cream, he almost ran right into Jason's leg!

Finally my wish was granted as we got to see some bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush with the backdrop of a lovely spring day! Jason was really sweet to let me get out and take a couple pictures, just like all the other crazy flower-lovers parked on the sides of the highway!

Big Fish!

Not to steal Jason's thunder or anything, but check out this great big Mahi Mahi...aka Dorado...he caught while on a work trip to Puerto Rico!

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.