As most of you know, I travel frequently in my job, and my camera travels with me. This entire month of June, I've taken intriguing- to -me photos of Doors!
So, compartmentalizing in my ways as I am, I present to you in this very Texas hot month of June, Photos of Doors, and what My Thoughts (and a few funny Stories about taking the photos) are:
DOORS THAT SAY WELCOME !
MY DOOR...WELCOME, EVERYONE
At my house, you are always greeted with a different wreath to welcome our few Texas seasons. I don't carry the seasons out onto the lawn as some of my neighbors do, (think over-sized snow globes on a Texas lawn) but I hope it's warm and welcome all the same, to my family and friends. By the way, I'm just "plant sitting" the plant to the left. It was a tiny little thing when I brought it home, late one hot August day for a friend who had just built a beautiful new home (with a gorgeous beveled glass front door...sorry, no photo). Now I don't think the not-so-little ficus wants to leave the little lady to the right...nope, don't think it's rightful owner wants it now at this height!
A NEWLYWED DOOR THAT SAYS WELCOME - WE HAVE A CANVAS FOR NEW MEMORIES
This door has the perfect canvas for it's owners to greet family and friends with a different wreath throughout the year. It gives a first impression of welcome, come on in to our home, maybe see our dog and you will find a beautiful Tuscany style, minimalistic warmth that makes you feel at home right away.
And should you leave by way of the back door and you didn't catch our name...well, we named our door so you know who to come back and see!
DOORS THAT SAY: WE WANT YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR FRIENDSHIP, TOO
There's no doubt how these owners feel about coming on in! They have it in writing! Actually, owners of a local craft store have become my "Saturday afternoon" friends and we talk about everything from arts to Medicare (ugh) to weddings and trips. It's definitely a welcome place, a place to feel at home:
DOORS THAT SAY: MARCH RIGHT ON IN!
This entry way seems to say "we think you are grand so march right on in." I try to think that I frame things in my mind before I speak, but not always, or so I'm told. This setting seems framed up and ready to greet a houseful.
DOORS WITH GARDENS AROUND & ABOUND:
This home not only has a welcoming and inviting appeal, but it is surrounded by sloping fences with wooden gates to who- knows- what- kind- of memories of playhouses, gardens and garden sheds. It certainly has that "come on in and sit a spell" look, but it's lot (no pun intended) of side gardens and passageways with nooks, crannies and arches on both sides that I could see from the corner, just really stopped me for a spell.
It's front Door also has a Hat . . . how cool is that? It provides it's visitors protection from the sun, the rain, the cold and anything else that might blow through this lovely South Texas town. Doors with Hats...think I need to look into that.
On the "stop sign corner" which I am sure causes people to stop, linger and look, much longer than the law allows, an array of colors, beautiful lush shrubbery and blooms that I would have needed this laptop to note them all. My photos certainly do not do the beautiful home the justice it deserves, but here's a little more from my lens to yours, along with a very real story...a late afternoon, laid back, friendly small town story. Now, back to my story about this stop.
It was late in the evening, and after a long day at the clinic, when I was simply tired and hungry, and on my way to fetch my usual salad and sweet tea I stopped at a 4-way and this house stopped me in my tracks. I parked my car, changed my shoes (I always have at least 2 pair in the car with me) and grabbed my camera. I wasn't about to let this house, it's doors, nor it's gardens get away from my memories. So, I was just minding my own business, dressed in my usual "suity" attire, but with flip flops and camera around my neck looking for the best angle. I was totally oblivious to who or what was happening around me. Suddenly a horn honked and I jumped back from the curb. A very kindly lady had stopped at the stop sign and was asking in a not- so- quiet voice: "Missy, do you want your photo taken in this beautiful yard, here? No ma'am, I'm just doing a little photography for my blog." I thought she might ask about the blog, but oh no, she wanted to know exactly what I was doing. "Are you from the newspaper doing something, she asked?"
At that point I thought I might need to get a move on it and pretty quick. Small town or not, I might have looked a bit odd there in my flip flops and camera. I grew a bit concerned...was I taking photos of the sheriff's home, or what? She was not going to give up that quick...nope, she wanted to know precisely what I was doing. "Well, what do you do if you are not in the newspaper business?"
While she seemed curious as to what I was doing, I really think she just wanted to engage in whatever the heck she thought I was doing.
"I work for some doctors here in town, and I don't have anything to do with the newspaper except to buy it and see what's going on in this part of the world." I was sure hoping she wasn't going to scold me for one thing or another but she kept that friendly smile and firing the questions.
I'm still shooting photos but she's still on a quest for what in the world a "woman in black," with goofy looking flip-flops, was doing in her part of the world. Then she said with a little self importance in her voice, "this is a doctor's house, right here, but I can't remember which doctor." At that moment, I wanted to slip into the nearest water drain. Was I standing there photographing the home of my boss? For some reason, she drove on, still chattering away and I'm still taking photos of these lovely gardens.
A minute later here she comes around the block. From inside her car, her passenger says: "We just checked out the house a few blocks over and that's a doctor's house, too. Why don't you go around there and take a picture of that one? It's got a deer growing in the middle. Oh, and the driver says --- I'll see you tomorrow when I come in for my check up ." She drove away introducing herself all the while gesturing as though we had known each other for years. Sure enough, next day, as I was working at the front desk, looking around for a missing something or another, here she came for her appointment. I slipped out pretty quick!
I don't think I'll forget that Memory or that Story of the House on the Corner with the Doors and the Gardens for a very long time! 
Oh... I almost forgot to show you...it has it's own little cottage in the back, playhouse, I'm not sure. It would be such fun to follow it's path and peek inside that door with the little Hat!
Of course, anyone who's ever likened himself a gardener knows we need gardening space. Whether it is a shelf or two in the garage, a lawn building out back, a rubbermaid make-shift closet/container on the back porch or an actual garden shed, as belongs to the lovely owners above, it's a "must have" for all gardeners. This one belongs to the gardens above.
The house with the Hat, with the Stop, Look and Linger Appeal, with more beauty than the eye can catch on a late summer day.
~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now you all probably thought the story ended there and I went on for my dinner of greens, sweet tea, no plasticware and ranch dressing! Oh no, I go around the corner, tired and hungry but wanting to see the house, with the pretty door and the deer growing in the front lawn, just as the lady directed. Well...it's not only beautiful, it has it's own storybook of memories.
A DOOR TO THE HOME, WITH NOT ONLY A DEER TO GREET YOU THROUGH IT'S LOVELY DOOR, BUT A DOOR THAT LEADS TO TEXAS HISTORY:
This beautiful home and it's welcoming door truly greets all with a topiary (deer) in it's front lawn and even in the South Texas heat it stood tall, as though for a showing...like the prize dogs we see on television strutting their stuff, being petted and groomed. The entire home is twists and turns of greenery, blooms and looks as though it must have a caretaker that does nothing but tend to it night and day. Not so...I learn. This is the home of a talented gardner, who is also a marathon runner, swimmer, gardener and wife, of yes, one of my bosses! As I told the story of the lady at the stop sign to my doctor boss the next day, and as I identified the house, he tells me "go look and see...I think it's my house. Here's where it is exactly." Oh my gosh, did I ever want to run out back, or what! But he willingly shared the story of how his home has a history linked to the famous Texan, J. Frank Dobie. J. Frank Dobie was a liberal Democrat, a voice for Texas and expert on southwestern culture. He graduated from high school and enrolled at Southwestern University in Georgetown where he met his wife, Bertha. Definitely need to look into that Texas history.
At this point, even I am a bit overwhelmed with this small south Texas town, its friendly people and so much heritage....so much history, too little time.
DOORS TO HISTORIC HOMES:
I was returning home to San Antonio one Sunday when I decided to stop and wander through a small central Texas town to stretch my legs. I put on my flip flops and walked the main street to see the doors along the way. Coming upon this beautiful wood door, bearing it's bronze historic landmark sign, seemed a little odd to have a "For Rent" sign in it's front yard. But hey, somebody, or lots of some bodies, have taken very good care to pass it along for others to enjoy. Can you imagine the memories and stories that these doors lead to?
This sweet little house had a set of doors (x 3) that seemed to say, come in, come in, come in. Definitely protecting it's history from a future that could harm it but sprinkled with the gorgeous porch, the night lamp and green plants, it was defnitely doors I would love to just see "what's going on in there? Anybody home? I bet there's homemade apple pie! South Texas certainly shows it's pride in this great land of ours. From painting a flag on the side of a barn to placing a flag around their favorite pet's neck. Sorry...no photos of those but I do have a group of photos in honor of:
~~~~~ FLAG DAY 6.14.2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATRIOTIC DOORS:
We've probably all been the recipient of the e-mail where folks have gathered at the airport to welcome home troops. It's such an overwhelming display of patriotism, handshakes, hugs, kisses, applause, sprinkled with tears of happiness and pride. I dare to imagine that the owners of doors like these who make up those crowds, take time out of their day to welcome home our soldiers in an otherwise busy and hectic schedule. They also make it obvious to all who come to their door that they are Proud To Be An American! America may agree or disagree on war but it's my belief that all Americans agree about the respect, pride, admiration and love of it's military personnel. So...on June 14th, Flag Day, I wanted to show off just a few doors that display their patriotism every single day for all the world to see.
This was such a serene setting of old oak trees, beautiful blooms and the wonderful Flag hanging there so proudly. Those doors would, no doubt, welcome a soldier for a holiday or warm meal at any time, to sit and chat about everything or nothing at all. Maybe just listen. The flag seemed to say it all: UNWAVERING.
I read a beautiful poem and would certainly give honorable tribute to who wrote it, but it was in a magazine, years ago. I just happened to write it down and still have it in an old journal. I'm a little "dorky" like that.
This is the home of a Marine, by the proud sign on the car in the drive. The doors seem to honor the Marine and I dedicate this poem, of someone else's talent, for the Marine and all his fighting brothers:
FREE
Free to be happy
Free to be me!
Free to become, whatever I choose to be.
Free to learn.
Free to believe.
Free to dream extraordinarily.
Free to have hope.
Free to have vision.
Free to have power to change my condition.
My life can become whatever
I choose it to be.
Because others - - have died
So I can be Free.
Now the door below seemed to have a dual message: "Proud To Be An American" but hey, we're in San Antonio, TX "Let's Party" because it is waaaaaay past Fiesta and that is definitely a festive wreath. Either way, it was one of my favorite because it did have more than one message...it had it's own uniqueness of pride, welcome warmth but wrapped with a message of fun, fun, fun!
ON A LIGHTER NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ DOORS WITH HATS ~~~~~~~~~~~
Never in my whole life have I thought about a Door having a Hat. I suppose some would say that it is really a "stoop."
n. D. stoep. (Arch.) Originally, a covered porch with seats, at a house door; the Dutch stoep was introduced by the Dutch into New York. Afterward, an out-of-door flight of stairs of from seven to fourteen steps, with platform and parapets, leading to an entrance door some distance above the street. The French is perron. Hence, any porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda, at a house door.
Or in my world, Doors with Hats...just too neat!
And here we have a Door with a Hat, greeted with a wreath of springtine flowers and Patriotic, as well. Enchanting.
I really thought this door (yes, with it's Flag Flying Proudly) was such a delightful combination of colors and beautifully coordinated color scheme. Just the thought that was put into the door and it's frame, was enough to make my head swim! Did the combination just pop into the owner's mind when they saw the right green or did it take forever and a day to put the green with all it's trimwork to just the right mixture. Absolutely charming...but nobody home for me to ask them!
DOORS THAT WELCOME OUR CHILDREN: "To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power." ~ Maya Angelou
"If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylum would be filled with mothers." ~ Edgar Watson Howe
"A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstretically once, and by car for ever after." ~ Peter De Vries
Well, all these messages seem to say that mothers, no doubt, will do anything, no matter how much energy it takes, how much sanity , but always be ready to help, guide and deliver our children to their place of safety. My personal belief was to try to keep Jacqueline Kennedy's perspective on how she raised her children. She was quoted as saying: "If you bungle raising your children, nothing else you do matters much." I believed it then and I believe it now.
Over time, we learn efficiency and shortcuts in helping us raise our children and history provided the wonderful school bus to do just that so we could move on with our busy day at an organized and scheduled pace. The school bus was first used to take children and adolescents to and from school, as well as all the events that now occur from grades beginning in kindergarten. While the first school bus was probably (no photos of doors here) a horse-drawn bus, the school bus has become the major mode of transportation for getting our precious cargo to and from school. In North America, the school bus is itself a specific type of bus set apart from any other bus. Canada and the Unites States have specifically built, painted and equipped school buses and almost every school bus we see has the beautiful, recognizable, "yellow-orange" color but did you know that it has an official name: "National School Bus Chrome Yellow." They paint it such so that it can be seen in early morning hours.
So...it seems only appropriate to display that beautiful bus that takes our precious cargo and to also say "thanks" to those drivers that deliver our children safely to and from school and other events.
DOORS THAT WELCOME OUR CHILDREN: THE DOORS TO THE SCHOOL BUS
Hang with me here...this one has a little story to go with the photo:
Again, on my way for my usual "green" dinner late one evening, I spotted a field of young kiddos playing baseball and saw this school bus with it's little doors open, just waiting for it's tired but excited and no doubt, hungry passengers. I couldn't help but stop and take this photo, especially since it's number was 68, a number dear to me (graduate TCHS 1968) and low and behold here comes a little lady who, I can only guess, thought I was going to get in and drive away in her bright bus! For sure with my goofy flip flops!
Oh no, her deal was about following rules. Am I parked too close to the curb or something?" This question really startled me because again, here I was in white, with a black sweater looking nothing like law enforcement and in my flip flops with ribbons and camera around my neck and she thinks I'm going to give her a ticket? I probably looked like one of the mothers out of the insane asylum! Again I explained: "No ma'am, I'm just taking a photo of this bright yellow school bus for a blog that I'm doing." Now this lady, unlike the other, had no problem just going on with her game watching. "Take all the photos you want, she said...they all look alike to me. I just don't want to have to 'xplain a ticket to the boss." I thought "thank you for driving our precious cargo" but really...do I look like a police person? Think I might need to change out those flip flops!
AND CERTAINLY , ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE DOORS...CARING FOR OUR SICK AND HURT CHILDREN DOORS.
DOORS TO THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO but first, a little history:
The concept of the Ronald McDonald House, like so many other historical contributions, began in the city of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Eagles and the McDonald restaurant owners combined their energies to assist Dr. Audrey Evans of the Children's Hospital Oncology Service in doing something for her patients, and for the families of children, with cancer. With the development of a "half-way" house under the name of the friendly clown, Ronald McDonald, the families could stay in comfort and convenience while the children were in the hospital or were receiving outpatient therapy. Here's our Ronald here in San Antonio just waiting to dry the tears, welcome the families and tend to every need possible for these precious little children.
Having been in health care since 1982, I know of no health insurance plan that covers the costs for food and lodging and other incidentals that are so badly needed when a family must travel to the best of the best doctors to provide loved ones with care. So many times, the travel is for long periods of time, living away from home, leaving brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends only to face the fear of the unkown. Ronald has provided this House with Doors that definitely say: We're here for you little one, we will be your home-away-from-home. We will help the stress and tired nerves and sleep deprived bodies, and be a home for your families while you focus all your energies on your illness.
And so it began and now the list is long of all the many wonderful people, fine human beings, who created the development of the Ronald McDonald House.
A little trivia for those who are interested: There are over 120 Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States, as well as an oversees location. I've seen the one in San Antonio and been in the Ronald McDonald House in Houston which was built by Houston Texans, has no mortgage and a heart as big as Texas!
I know I'll always "drop my change" in Ronald's box each and every time I go for my Sweet Tea...won't you? 
AND FOR LAST: A HOUSE WITH A VERY SMALL FRONT DOOR.
As most of you know, I don't cook. I even have a sign in my kitchen that says" Kitchen Closed which went up when my youngest son entered Baylor University and that was 1995.
So after passing through my front Door one might think it a little odd that I have a dining room but...I've put it to good use. It holds the Dollhouse that I started building in 1985. So I end my Door blog this month with THE SMALLEST DOOR that leads to an all-electric 3 story turn- of- the- century farmhouse, with no kitchen, somehow just forgot it but with a formal dining room (add on). The best thing about this Door...it never, ever leaks.
June, 2008
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