Texas Sage

Texas sage is one of the few plants deer wont eat. It's primarily a desert plant but grows fine here in Central Texas. It is unique as an indicator of coming rain, its blossoms appearing before its about to rain. They are fragrant and profuse. Unfortunately with the rains we've had here ( all very needed) this May those blossoms have been open so much and pummeled by so much rain there aren't too many left. It has been the wettest May since 1895! And a tragic one for many with floods destroying homes and claiming the lives of a number of people. I like to think those blossoms left are in their memory. God grant them His Peace.

A Mistake

  Over thirty years ago my wife and i bought the land we live on. A modest piece of acreage we intended to build a house on, raise a family, and live out our lives on. It had some nice changes in elevation, lots of oak trees, a wet weather creek, and of course- way too many cedar ( mountain juniper) trees. They grow like weeds, choke out the other growth, and suck up the precious water. I went to work on them with a brush axe. And we noted where the breezes blew from, the angles the sun hit the earth at different seasons, how the creek flowed when it rained, and where our neighbors to be would most likely build their houses. So we planned our home and just where it would fit best. 
  We did a good job except in one thing- where the power company placed our electric transformer and pole. Since the power company wouldn't bring electricity until we had a well drilled, the well was first. Without really considering much except not interfering with any of the oaks the line would run near we placed it fairly close to the well. We intended to, and did, run it underground from there to the house. 
  We got the house built and have enjoyed our lives here, settling in very comfortably. Very comfortably. Its just that from my rocker, in its perfect position on our most favorite porch for sitting. For watching the rain, the light come up in the mornings, drinking coffee and talking between each other, deer and birds, and enjoying glorious sunsets  this is the view of those sunsets for half the year. A mistake.

light

Happy Mothers Day!

It was on the other side of the world when she first grasped her Mothers hand.

Perfect Trust

This is a picture my wife took yesterday in our yard. We have lots of deer around our property and in the spring a lot of the does drop their fawns on the lawn. ( Safer for them than the higher grass where there are lots of fireants) This was the first one we've seen this year. In a few hours they are on their feet and gone.... moving at light speed! But for those first few hours they lay there, left trustingly by their mothers while they go to find food.