Doors ~ An Opening for Entry or Leaving

Since I can remember, I've had a fixation on doors. That's quite a progression from reading billboards that I'm sure used to drive my Uncle Dee and Tis "batty" when we were on a road trip. It didn't matter what the billboard said...I just wanted to read it out loud! Doors..I want to know everything about Doors. What's behind them, who's in there and the most important thing that goes through my mind when I see a door is: IS THE DOOR TO WELCOME...OR IS IT TO KEEP OTHERS OUT?

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.

And off to the right of the front door you find a sloping rock treasure of a fence, with a wooden door which leads to who- knows- what, but no doubt, more welcome, more gardens and more beauty.

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

Memories of the Month of Mays

For me, May conjures up many fun times, happy times, sad times, days to be honored and memories of times past. Here are a few from my vault of Memories of Mays. First, this Merry month of May, my blog is dedicated to some special relatives in my life...people who are part of my happy days and sad days, as well, but the best thing is...there are many more Mays to celebrate. To my Mother who taught me to color (of course… inside the lines) and to love fabrics, every texture and every pattern. To that end, I’ve taken that love to my paper, pencils, colors and scissors to my love of scrapbooking…so I can tell My Story. Mom & Me, Thanksgiving 1992

I also dedicate this month’s blog, as well, to an extraordinary woman who has been like a mother to me, my Tis, who had that wonderful, colorful set of dishes we all know as “Fiesta.” It seemed with every meal she cooked I was able to eat on a different color plate. Now how cool is that?

My Tis still has these dishes, with all the colors, saucers, cups and they are as colorful as when I was 10 and that was a long time ago!

May is such a fun time full of color, blooms and blossoms with flowers blooming everywhere so I also dedicate this month's blog to my mother's mother, Annie. I choose to believe that I inherited her green thumb!

My grandmother's favorite flower, which always ran a close race with pink roses was any species of the day lily. Day Lily, from the Greek words (hemera) "day" and (kalos) "beautiful." She loved them because they would open at sunrise (and no doubt she was up and about tending to her "chores" ) and wither at sunset, when she could be out in her gardens pulling a weed or watering her beloved flowers. These are from her original day lily garden at the "old house" where I spent so many wonderful summers with her and my granddad and my cousins, Chris and Fred and now these day lilies have a home at my home and in my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More on my ongoing love of flowers... I found this unique bloom on an "adventure walk" and couldn't resist the lovely blooms coming from the dark green foliage...even without rain here in South Texas. I've no idea what it is but it's not an heirloom and it's not growing in my yard! Actually the photo was taken in Leander, TX., at no other than, a gas station.

Here it is May and the waters are turning clear and warm just inviting us to dive in to see what is beneath. I don't mind if you take that dive... as for me, I choose to stay on land. The fear of what’s beneath, you know? Having grown up around the Galveston coastal area, I am for sure that I did everything in my power to stay out of the water no matter the cost. That included, Phys. Ed. Swimming Class in High School, at the cost of an A, just to keep my blonde curly hair (also inherited from Mama Rush) from getting wet... lest EVERYONE, including my beloved Mama Rush

would be calling me Lizzy...she called me Tizzy Lizzy, but I was for sure the kids would call me Frizzy Lizzy...grrrrrr. Now I wasn't alone in that evading the water...my dear friend Phyllis Ann was right there with me. Now she doesn't have near as curly hair as I do...in fact now she has the most beautiful silver color hair one could ever want!

May in Texas is surely for heat and sun lovers but as little kids, May would find us packing our school sachels for the year (we didn’t have backpacks back then) with little broken crayolas to play with over the summer and glue that no longer stuck to anything but the lid! Just thinking about the crayolas brings back wonderful memories. Yep, those good old days of school, memories of little chocolate milk containers for just two cents, picking out my favorite lunch kit, recess, eating glue (well, not me, of course) and scribbling with my beautiful box of colors like any first grader would.

At the start of school as a third grader, that’s when Mom bought me my very first 64 box of Crayolas. I was so excited to see there were other colors since my Box of Eight (which sold for a nickel, I might add) contained only black, brown, blue, red, violet, orange, yellow and green. Those colors are still the same in the Box of Eight today. Their meanings: Red: The color of passion, bright, fiery red can evoke a gamut of powerful emotions, from romance to anger! Orange: This citrusy shade energizes a room. More subdued shades of orange can create feelings of happiness and well-being. Yellow: the color of social connection and creativity, possibly because it enhances concentration. Studies show that people linger longer in rooms painted yellow. Green: The color or nature, evoking feelings of abundance, comfort, and also being in the center of the light spectrum, balance. Black: Black falls into the neutral color category, but is actually a combination of all the colors in the visual spectrum. As the absence of light, black can symbolize secrecy (darkness), but because of its intensity, also represents positive traits such as power and authority. Blue: Blue is serene, sedate and restful, from blue skies to deep blue oceans, staring at a wall of blue has been shown to lower heart rates and blood pressure. White: Well, I'm going to use grey to describe white; otherwise you wouldn't know that white symbolizes purity, cleanliness, and has the effect of opening up a space or making it seem larger!

Now being off my subject a tad...back to those BIG BOXES. . . 64 Crayolas we loved to check off our supply list preparing for the first day of elementary school, have come a long way…50 years long. This is the 50th anniversary of the 64 Crayola Pack and I still love the smell of a new box of colors. Happy 50th Birthday, Crayola (1958-2008).

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y 64-PACK!

Just in case you are wondering, here are the names of the colors found in a pack of 64 Crayola crayons. *Apricot *Aquamarine *Bittersweet *Black *Blue *Blue Gray *Blue Green *Blue Violet *Brick Red *Brown *Burnt Orange *Burnt Sienna *Cadet Blue *Carnation Pink *Copper *Cornflower *Forest Green *Gold *Goldenrod *Gray *Green *Green Blue *Green Yellow *Indian Red (renamed as "Chestnut" in 1999) *Lavender *Lemon Yellow *Magenta *Mahogany *Maize *Maroon *Melon *Mulberry (retired and replaced with "Mango Tango" in 2003) *Navy Blue *Olive Green *Orange *Orange Red *Orange Yellow *Orchid *Flesh (renamed as "Peach" in 1962) *Periwinkle *Pine Green *Plum *Midnight Blue *Raw Sienna *Raw Umber *Red *Red Orange *Red Violet *Salmon *Sea Green *Sepia *Sky Blue *Silver *Spring Green *Tan *Thistle (retired and replaced with "Indigo" in 2000) *Turquoise Blue

*Violet *Violet Blue *Violet Red *White *Yellow *Yellow Green *Yellow Orange. And here we have our new eight crayolas, named by 20,000 kids to introduce the 2008 Kids’ Choice Colors! AWESOME, GIVING TREE, FAMOUS, FUN IN THE SUN, BEST FRIENDS, SUPER HAPPY, HAPPY EVER AFTER and BEAR HUG! With all the news and its "doom and gloom" I find it refreshing that our young kiddos have identified colors that denote a 1)Healthy self esteem, 2)Responsibility to our world, 3) Believing, 4) Fun, 5) Value of Friendship, 6)Happiness, 7) Happiness Forever, and 8) Nurturing. As parents, what more could we ask? Job well done, kiddos!

As for color and me…it’s a unique relationship. My home is full of color from the walls that are candlelight yellow, to the big Queen Anne chairs I inherited from my friend Sallie, and recovered with HUGE cabbage roses in PINK , to the dining room that is Candy Apple Red. Wonder if that color is still around? THE CANDY APPLE RED DINING ROOM...WITH DOLLHOUSE... FOR A BLOG OF ANOTHER TIME AND MEMORIES PAST...to be continued!

So one would ask…why does she wear black and white all the time? Is that some sort of conflict going on? I consider it convenience in the work- a- day world, and a signature…wanting to be a bit different on the outside than on the inside. Now black and white is a blog for another day! Because look...here I am with the most beautiful little girl, just full of color and smile, having a fun day and I'm in black and white!

Also, this blog is dedicated to my sister (born in the Month of May, and who I call with affection, of course, "Nellie" - she's on the right (my baby sister, Karla on the left, is a whole other blog) in the wedding photo where I didn't wear black...wore brown (asked to by the Bride and it was such fun finding a different color for my wardrobe!) but moving on with My Story...Nellie was brought home just a few days after she was born on Mother’s Day, May 9, 1956. When my Mom and Dad brought her home I asked “why…why do you need her when you have me?” I have no recollection what they said but recently I was able to spend the night with her and on her birthday, May 9, the date our mother passed away I jumped into her bed and said: “Do you know the story of me asking Mom and Dad why they needed you when they had me when they brought you home from the hospital?” Well, at 5:30 a.m. she a) wasn’t real awake and (b) didn’t really seem to care but I quizzed on. After she mumbled something that sounded like “whatever,” I told her: “they brought you home so that when they were not here we have each other for times like these.” I think she woke up then because I heard her say: “Ohhhhhhh.” Then I went to work and, hopefully, for a moment on her birthday, she smiled.

Karla, Babs & Janell, 7.07.07 at my son's wedding in Temple, Tx.

Lastly, this is dedicated to my special cousin/big sister, Norma Dee. I don’t think there are official colors of “SHINY” and “BRIGHT” but she is that sparkling combination! While she has gone through a very difficult time this month, she will always remain the Shiny and Bright in my life. Never without sparkle, never without curiosity about life, never without talent in everything she does…she’s always ready to DANCE WITH LIFE with her SHINY & BRIGHT nature, her shiny and bright artistic talents and style - no you won't find just black and white in her wardrobe. She has something of every color and everything has that SHINY & BRIGHT FLAIR. So here’s an Awesome Bear Hug :o) to you, Norma Dee, for bringing sparkle to my life since I was not much past your knees wanting to go to the prom with you…you were so SHINY and BRIGHT!

PROBABLY ALL OF THE COLORS IN HER SHINY & BRIGHT CLOSET AND JEWELRY MAKING...just one of her many talents!

May, 2008

~ APRIL FIRST, 2008~ April Fools' Day

"The first of April, some do say,

Is set apart for All Fools' Day.

But why the people call it so,

Nor I, nor they themselves, do know.

But on this day are people sent

On purpose for pure merriment."

Poor Robin's Almanac (1790) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every morning I enjoy opening e-mail, to find my "Word of the Day." Today's word:

jollification \jol-ih-fuh-KAY-shuhn\, noun:

Merrymaking; Festivity; Revelry. I thought about what a fun word it is. Fun to say, fun to put into a sentence but mostly just a real "feel good" kind of word in this world of so much negativity, gloom and doom. Trying to make a connection to jollification and why it was today's word, I remembered...April Fools' Day, and I thought back... waaaaay back, in my memory bank, of the funniest (hey at least the pranksters thought it was funny until I was near tears) April Fools' Day prank played on me. You see, all my life I have been organized, alphabetized and catergorically speaking, categorized. I have ways of putting things in categories in my brain. A constant "to do" list but with a little brain prioritizing not to mention all the little "stickies" and notes I leave to remind myself of my organized life. But enough of that. April 1, 1985, my boss, SPS, who 25 years later is now one of my bestest friends, decided to push the limit with my organized life for a little fun and merriment, along with his boss...my big boss! Now we must remember that this was a day and age absent of Ipods, Iphones, Outlook and Alarms to ring a bell of alert to tell you when to leave and just where to go and with your favorite tune. In that year, anybody who really wanted to be organized went all out...Franklin (better known in my busy life as Frank) Covey Style. Leather Binder, all alphabetized, calendarized and one's schedule for the entire year mapped out. That didn't even count the hundreds of phone numbers, birthdays, anniversaries and addresses I lugged around with me every day. I carried Frank in a prized treasure...a lovely leather bag to match. Much to my chagrin, they didn't have matching shoes! I lived my life by that beautiful maroon, leather bound journal which I still have in the little cubby above my desk, as I sit writing this story. Photo below shows just how much I thought of Frank...I mean really, a Reward?

I knew where I was to be at all times, where the bosses were supposed to be and my boys schedule (hey...they were color coded but that is a post for a different time). After my short drive from Texas City to Houston (58 mi. 1 way), I settled in for the day, looked at my schedule lay Frank to rest on my credenza and took on the day. About 3:30 I decided to take a look and determine what the next day was going to be and where everybody in my life needed to be. That maroon journal would be the director of my day. But fear set in immediately when Frank was not in his usual place on my credenza, he was not in his stylish bag, he was not on my desk, he was absolutely nowhere to be found. Panic began to set in and I went up and down the halls and out to my car at least twice, looking for Frank. It seemed like folks were watching my every move but I paid no attention...I was on a mission to find Lost Frank. This went on for at least an hour and I was at the point of tears. Then...just my luck, the bosses called me in. The big boss and the immediate boss, who later in life has become a beloved buddy, SPS, and only 1 of 2 people that I allow to call me Bev. The other is 95 years old...what can I say? They played me well...what is wrong with you? "Why, Bev, you look on the verge of tears." That I was and trying very hard not to be a "whiney bucket" in front of two of the big bosses! Nothing doing, I broke. The dam broke and all they could hear about was poor lost Frank. Unfortunately, that was my pet name for my beloved organizer, Frank, and we had two real guy persons named Frank in our department. So I had to quit the hysteria long enough to tell them it was not a person, it was the map to my life! "Ah, ha" they said, with quite the michevious looks on their faces. In less than 10 seconds, Frank was pulled out of a desk drawer with the simple: "Is this what you are looking for, Bev?," all sweet and innocent. Well, calling me by a name that I detest really put me over the edge, plus having found Frank after all the worry and what if's! "APRIL FOOL'S DAY, BEV" they said with more than a glee in their eyes. Sad for them for I didn't feel a bit of jolly and to this day I don't know: Do they realize the trauma they caused? I mean...can you imagine losing your cell phone? Some of us don't even know our own phone numbers since we've become so paper challenged! From time to time, my bestest buddy and I refer to this fond memory with a little more lightheartedness on my part since now we are all so very sophisticated with our electronic dependency.

~~~~~~ Fast Forward 23 years to present ~~~~~ Today, this first day of April, 2008, I wanted to put a little merriment in someone else's life. My bestest female buddy. We call her Cupid because she's brought together 12 couples out of 13 girlfriends she has played Cupid to, who are as happily married as she is...and she so wishes I would be #13. Having missed her the last month and playing a lot of phone tag, I left an urgent 911 message. She called instantly. A dear friend, the kind that is totally honest, whether you ask for it or not. Of course, always loving honesty. Next to my Mom, she is my biggest cheerleader. A good friend, wonderful wife, great mother, friends to more than I can count and now a beautiful grandmother! So when she returns my call I remind her of this fellow I had met several years ago that she vaguely knew, coincidently, and I told her how he and I have remained friends but more recently decided to give the friendship a dating chance, post my "time out." A blog for another time. With absolutely no hesitation, she said: "Oh, the fellow whose feelings you hurt?" Well, that part I didn't know about and won't elaborate on. I just answered with a quick "Well, I must not have hurt his feelings too bad because we're going on a real date." We had always just had a get together drink, catch up on lives and left it there. There was complete silence...you know like the commercial for cell phones when the line drops at just the wrong time? I thought she had passed out but then she regained her composure and said: "What did you just say? I might add she said it with a little more glee, but I had been in "time out" since 9.30.07 and even she agreed it was time to get out. "Yes, you heard me right." She was all excited and I let that excitement go only a little way and then I thought...Hook, Line and Sinker..."Gotcha'... April Fools' Day! She laughed and laughed but before we hung up she wanted credit for the Cupid-Set Up. Well, I guess that is the least I can do for her ~ let her believe in her heart of hearts she actually might make it to Couple#13! Well, another dating disaster that dating of a friend was but no fault of Cupid's...lost a nice friend. And that is the merriment of my day...looking back at fond memories and having a bit of fun with a dear friend (although there's no doubt in my mind there will be payback :-) So...future memories to enjoy. Hope everyone had a fun day with a lot of jollification on this first day of April, 2008! Cheers.

Garden Girl...

Today was all about "It's Your Turn" and wow...as I was halfway through opening my gardens, which, in Texas, only means "it's time to start mowing again," I was really going through my "Do I Stay or Do I Sell" chatter in my mind. "Its Your Turn" comes around the neighborhood every six months and we can put almost anything imaginable on our curb and it's picked up free of charge...yeah! Pickup officially begins tomorrow but we've been able to stockpile at the curb for a week. It's amazing how things have a way of disappearing...sort of a sidewalk sale, free of charge with the constant question of "where'd it go :-)?" My sweet neighbor couple (I affectionately call them the "kiddos") with three precious little boys placed an old dryer on the curb on the very first day and 2 days later...gone and don't you know the collectors are happy about that! Though the interesting thing is that it's actually a big claw like truck that comes around with a big bucket picker upper. Only person I've ever seen is the driver who manipulates the claw - - like one of those games at a store where you put your coin in and maneuver to get a toy - - some short lived little cuddly that will probably end up at the curb some day, too. Personally, I always consider "It's My Turn" the week-end to "square up" my outside closet. A time to prepare it for a whole new wardrobe of petunias and impatience in shades of pink mixed with white and purple and everbody waiting their turn for a new spring "do." This exercise enables me to revisit all the reasons why I love my home and my yard...reminiscing about having planted every single shrub and dug up enough rocks to rebuild the Alamo just to plant something new that caught my eye. I'm pretty sure my love of gardening came from my grandmother who I was named after. Her name was Annie but I called her Mama Rush. Today I noticed that her fern is springing up to see what is going on despite catching a bit of frostbite this past February.

Mama Rush had a green thumb and I'm not sure she ever visited a nursery...her yard just had a little of this and a little of that. Everything from 6' hollyhocks to vines and vines of dewberries that my cousins and I would pick for a wonderful cobbler. Mama Rush would just snip a little cutting and tell me to "stick in the ground and watch it grow." Yeah, right, Mama Rush, I would say. Well, I did get lucky with a clump of her fern in 1971. That clump of fern has moved from house to house, city to city and it's been around since she was a young bride and the original grew in her mother-in-law's yard. That goes back much farther in time than I want to count but by antique standards I think we could declare it an "antique" and just put it in it's own little category...sort of like antique roses. Now I remember the year 1971, not because I have a great memory, but because that was the year my boys' Dad and I built our first home, on Westbury Lane, and he was quite a gardner. He had a degree in Horticulture and a Master's in Education so teaching came natural to him but learning did not come easy to me. He taught me everything about how to build a flower bed and how to feed the flowers and lawn and I have flower beds along every side of my house and down the fence line. While many days I really want to be in a "lock and go" situation, like a townhouse or high-rise, its on a day like today when I see my Indian Hawthorne blooming away, looking all bright and cheery on cold mornings, and begin to see little buds on my "Alfie bush" as my Mama Rush would call it (real name Rose of Sharon - - it's plant taxonomy classifies it as Hibiscus Syriacus) that I know deep down "An Hour in the Garden Really Puts Life's Problems in Perspective" and for that day and that moment in time I never want to give up my outdoor life of pampering my yard. This past summer I went to New Mexico for my birthday and while visiting a sweetheart of a couple, who are now newlyweds, I learned the professional technique to pruning my roses. A 90 year-young Master Gardner, Mr. Byrel, an award winning rose grower, gave me private tutorials in his beautiful rose gardens. So this past Valentine's Day I performed the 5-leaf pruning technique that Mr. Byrel patiently taught me. He said using this technique on Valentine's Day was part of the magic and I'm anxious to see how well my roses liked being tended to with such loving and professional care. My grandmother would have just said "snap their heads off, they'll keep on blooming." Somehow I think my roses will prefer Mr. Byrel's technique over getting their heads snapped off! I've never, ever seen such beautiful roses as Mr. Byrel's roses...all brands, all shapes, all colors and all sizes and he has blue ribbons to show for many of them! While I know how much he loves his roses, I think he had to have his own rose garden so he could reward his bride and soulmate, Ms. Jane, with a fresh bouquet every week. Of course, he had a worm garden, too...something I don't think I'm going to try and that could be his real M A G I C ! So today, this 9th day of March, I put my Problems in Perspective (by spending 6 hours, not 1) in the garden and found that I don't have any problems! It was a good day and I will be rewarded and so will my neighbors, or so they tell me, when the entire right side of my driveway blooms all summer and into early fall. Happy Gardening to all!

Is Spring Breaking in South Texas?

The birds think it is Spring. The people at Home Depot think it's Spring and most certainly the "It's Your Turn" pick up collectors KNOW it's spring. It's when we all get to place anything on the curb, and whoooooosh...it's gone...most times before the collectors even pick up :-) This week happens to be my neighborhood "Its Your Turn." So all my neighbors are cleaning out attics, trimming shrubbery and hopefully, there's no husbands out there sitting on the curb ~ lest they might just get picked up! When I wake during the week, even before the alarm, the birds are not singing, just yet, and I don't think they've got the e-mail that it's Spring or so it feels on 85 degree days. Well, even I'm not singing at 4:30 a.m. But Saturdays...well that is a different story. I get to sleep late...7 a.m. What luxury! I have a beautiful crepe myrtle (white) just outside my bedroom window that I bought for $1.97 about 10 years ago at a 75% off sale. While I bought it thinking it was a "dwarf," it's now past the roof line of my two story house... but when it's in bloom...it looks like it's snowed over the backyard. It's definitely not a dwarf. For the last several years there's been a precious little nest built and because it is at eye level with my window, I get to keep an eye on the little birdies for several weeks. One of the most amazing things that is happening this Spring is the 1st blooming of my seed grown Mountain Laurel. It's a wonder and I "birthed" it, along with the help of my local nurseryman and his radio show on Saturday mornings. I called in (using my grandmother's name so no one would recognize me...which my nail stylist did right away) and asked about this "dirt" in San Antonio. His response: "Dirt, Annie? We don't have dirt. San Antonio sits on a rock." Anyway, I went on to find out about these beautiful glossy green trees and their overhanging grape-like blooms. Then I listened in again a few weeks later and found out how to grow my own from a seed pod. Rough it up with a little sandpaper, put it in your refrigerator for the winter time, take it out in early spring and 10 years later...wa-la you will have blooms. Mine is blooming for the very first time in the 10 years I've lived in my home. Do you think it knows I'm thinking about moving to the country. Never know. South Texas is so peppy about their outdoor ~ their beloved Hill Country and there is so much movement when the weather begins to warm. People spruce up their homes, start moving their bodies (well...most, anyway), begin to walk around with their dogs on a leash and renew hibernated winter friendships. As for me, I just think it's rather a cathartic time...a time of renewal. Sprucing up and organizing, which is truly one of my favorite things to do. Getting all of my art stuff in its orderly and organized place. My Mom used to say the reason I loved Scrapbooking was because it gave me a really good excuse to organize things. I think my neice, Taylor, would say "maybe not because I've seen how Aunt Beverly names her shoe boxes so she can find them...all 52 boxes and she counted every one of them, while bouncing on my bed, and announced it at the Thanksgiving table!" Actually, I've been organizing for a very long time. I mean doesn't everybody alphabetize their spices! So this whole week-end, I get to spend looking for things to throw away, simplify things and begin to minimize my life style...one of my New Year's Resolution. Happy Spring...even if it may get chilly a time or two. No doubt we'll hit 94 degrees again sometime this month!

Starting the Day with a Movie and Ending it with a Story to Be Told

Seldom does a "chick flick" come along that is soooo feel good. Today I went to see Izzy's new movie "27 dresses" and it was so enchanting. Now I've been married a couple of times in my 57 years but only been a bridesmaid two times. Both were for my sisters. Now I guess I should count that I was a Jr. Bridesmaid (I was far too old to be a flower girl at age 11) for my "big sister" Norma back in what, 1957 ish...somehow I don't think that counts! I cannot imagine taking on the responsibility of being a bridesmaid 27 times, 27 dresses and 27 pairs of shoes. Now the shoe part I liked and you really must go see it to "get it." I think the guys out there will even find it enchanting and then, of course, there is the gorgeous Dr. Stevens "Izzie" who we all seem to find attractive. I was going to do some photography but we had a nice little bit of rain so not being a great outdoors person (no I don't "walk in the rain") I decided it was a good day to look at family photos and clean up my Art Room, post Valentine's Day. Had a lot of fun making my Valentine's and the 6 that I made all gave rave reviews. Guess I will get started on my Easter Cards, as well as the Anniversary project of the Newlyweds. See photo above ~ click to enlarge!

My oldest son, Steven, a gorgeous guy with an athletic build and gorgeous blue eyes, met the most beautiful girl in the world, Lauren. She is beautiful inside and out. From the first time I met Lauren, not only did I know that she had captured my son's heart (Moms can tell that, you know) until they married on 7.07.07, I have collected many photos of their "two-some-dom" and I'm sketching, drawing, scrapbooking and Telling The Story of their First Year starting in the spring before he proposed (another story for another post) to give them an anniversary present, in scrapbook form, on 7.07.08. A peak at the beginning of their story is in the caption. I think their eyes truly tell the story but I'll give it my best. Time's getting away...better get busy.

It's a reeeeally cold wintry day in South Texas.

Now most people would find today a beautiful...maybe a mite chilly day for January in South Texas. For me...it's a "bundle up" day. 42ish degrees is about 30 degrees chillier than comfort to me. Need to 1) go wash the vehicle and be ready for the road tomorrow and 2) check on "Polly" she is my pet. Actually she is a Polaris who continually sweeps my pool clean and she does a mighty fine job but when her little white bag is full of leaves then I must place my arm in that really chilly water...something I would rather not do. If I don't do my job, then she can't do hers...so we are a team. This past week on my road trip, the sun was coming up, it was cold (probably 35-36 degrees) and the most beautiful red sorrel horse was standing, all alone, on a hill top. Okay, so it really was just sloped ranchland but it was such a beautiful sight. Reminds me that I need my camera in my car at all times. I had a big red sorrel horse and he was my very best friend as a teenager. It really brought back some good memories. Sometimes we think our memories are all tucked away and then "bam" a little piece of the past comes hurling back for a moment ~ or in my case, much longer than a moment because I am sure for the next 30 minutes all I thought about was my horse and all the fun and memories we had together. Well, no more delaying...I've got to get to the chilly chores and "be ready to take on the world."

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. A very laid back day after a wonderful day with my youngest son, Sam, and I having our Thanksgiving lunch at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. Absolutely beautiful setting with lots of trails and quite a bit of entertainment throughout the meal. Our reservations were a little bungled by the waitress and lasted all of one minute ~ so for the inconvenience, the Hyatt sent over a bottle of Champagne. We proceeded to make our own mimosas and having a good time catching up with family news, friend news and job news. Then it was back home for an afternoon nap followed by the Movie "The Wedding" which he had not seen of his brother's wedding since he was standing in the back being a very good Usher. We ended the day with our all time fav show "Grey's Anatomy" and it was off to bed. Really must get out to exercise some time this week-end. I think I consumed more calories on Thanksigiving than I've had all year. I even had a little cheesecake dessert.

Sam

This is my son Sam - he's my youngest of my two gorgeous guys. They are as different as night and day, salt and pepper and have been the absolute light of my life. Some of the things they do have in common (besides their love of Mom, of course) is: love of cars, beautiful blue eyes and their love of Mamaw's cream cheese cake. There are days that I think each look exactly like their handsome Dad and other days I think...no, that's definitely my trait. Truth is...it's a combination of both and it makes for two handsome sons that are generous, thoughtful and have never caused a moment's trouble. Sam is a Baylor Bear and now works for HP and Steven is a Howard Payne Yellow Jacket and now a High School Baseball Coach. Now I have the most beautiful daughter-in-law, Lauren, married to Steven on 7.07.07 ~ there's no doubt that sometime in the future I'm going to have "Hollywood grandchildren." My life is blessed!