HAPPY 4th OF JULY

Make a Wish and Follow the Road Wherever it May Lead - Babs First, a Bit of History: During the American Revolution the legal separation from Great Britain actually occured on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a committee with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4th. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence n July 4th the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2nd, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress. One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on July 4th. Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, concerts and baseball games, along with political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRAVELING MY PATHS ~ THE BACK ROADS OF SAN ANTONIO TO HOME Having never been much of a fireworks girl AND having burned a kitchen (accidently) back in my cooking days that was limited to 1978, coupled with not being a cook (so I guess that's why no invites to picnics), I decided to have my own picnic of photos on this July 4, 2008. I put on my most patriotic shoes, sweater (it has 2 stars), shorts and made sure my camera was in the seat beside me, grabbed the keys to "Sil" (my favoritest get-around) and took advantage of the sunshine and least travelled back roads of San Antonio, Tx with a six-pack of water.

I decided to scout out roads I've traveled every day since I moved here in 1996 and put together a few thoughts and stories to celebrate this great day . PLEASE, REMEMBER: It is July 4, 2008, it's 98 degrees here in San Antonio, TX (252 sunshiny days a year) with only scattered showers that must have been scattered somewhere else. No...I don't have goats in my backyard or deer but they, obviously, are not far and are on my beaten path. Goats, well I best back up a bit. I did own 1/2 interest in a billy goat back in my child rearing days and his name was "Rupert" and I didn't bring him home. He was quite the finicky goat. Rupert would only let my 2 year old feed him (who happens to be 33 now) and probably thinks that is some story I just happen to have made up but, of course, I have photos! Oakland Drive and it's paths to who-knows-where has always been a favorite of mine, with its dips and curves which I've seen in 17 degree weather, flooded with two feet of water and today I stopped for a bottle of water out of my cooler and look what I saw! Goats...enjoying the sunshine and romping with their kids!

And further down the road I go. You know, folks have such a way of displaying their patrioism and this was quite the patriotic couple, though I know for a fact that they dress up for every holiday!

In the Merry Month of May they were all geared up for graduation. Wonder what they will dress for in August?

And on down the road I ventured - - I have fond memories of the curvy road below. I would always call my mom when I reached this path to home because there was no traffic and I would check in with her. At the time I drove home, most folks were having their after dinner dessert so the road was free of the 6 or 7 cars that might travel along the way throughout the day. Not so surprisingly, I could tell if Mom was feeling well or not and I tried to share some of the things I would see when she was too sick to even walk to her mailbox, though goodness knows I pushed her to just "go a little further each day" somehow thinking I could make her stronger over the telephone waves. That's a bit like me...drive, drive, drive and I don't mean the roads. A subject for another blog.

Today this road was so serene and calm and I pulled over to just enjoy the quiet when I saw movement to my left...thought it was a dog and I mean a really big dog. It wasn't a dog, wasn't a goat, it was a deer. I mean a really big deer and he stood there like he knew he better pose and that he did. I had to think for a moment about what time of year it was. Yep, it was July, not December but there he (I guess it was a he) was, lollygagging around like he was out for his daily walk. Guess he was just trying to keep cool like the rest of us. I pulled over, put on my flip flops so as not to mess up my flag shoes, and walked up to the fence to peer through and try for a closer look. No need to worry there. You would have thought I was there to feed him. He just stood there and struck a pose like he was about to go on stage. What a beautiful animal. I read somewhere about animals sharing our planet with us but how they experience it differently. They having their own abilities and gifts that allowed them to interact successfully with the natural world. I didn't think a lot of the read until today as I wandered around the neighborhood. Perhaps I should look to animals for more guidance to show me different ways to go about my detailed, "rigidly-flexible" life. (Phrase coined describing me by my good friends, James and Carol). Even with the heat, the gawkers critiquing him, and probably a little hungry and thirsy, he still deals with his own challenges with what seems like grace, humility and calm. I've never been much of an animal lover and I've never kept it a secret. I don't think you can - keep it a secret, that one really doesn't like animals. They can smell it. I have my reasons...they know. Well, big animals, yes, I absolutely love. Anything smaller than a quarter horse (except for my son's beloved Boxer, Tag), I haven't always gotten along well with animals. Throughout my pre-teens and teens I had horses and they all knew they could count on me and they were my best friends - they are so beautiful and to just sit atop one makes you feel like a princess. A fellow once said: "God's most beautiful creatures are thoroughbreds and women." I still believe that - about the thoroughbreds, that is. Animals know all the secrets and I bet they have answers we've never been told. I just need to pay more attention to the animal life around me, I suppose. I know I could use a lot more nature in my life but "getting out in nature" to me is driving to and from work in South Texas and stopping to take photos along the way.

Looking at birds soaring in the sky and giving me a perspective on a problem from long distance. Maybe I won't receive an answer right away but I can remind myself that the universe has its own perfect timing and it doesn't tie itself to the ticking clock the way that I do. What if I don't have the answer immediately? This I know I need to work on...Release. There is NOT always an answer. Release my question into the care of nature and the universe and trust that an animal messenger will carry inspiration my way. All the while, maybe just get myself aligned with the universe's rhythm--opening, humbling myself, and shifting my perceptions so that at just the right time, I will be ready for the answer. That way, later on, I can enjoy the message from the small bird who is hopping from tree to tree and take it as a signal to use a talent other than what I perceive as a strength and take SMALL LEAPS rather than FLY OVER DETAILS. Maybe animals are some representatives of messages; no matter where we see them, their meaning is the same. Just like the deer and the goats, we are reminded of how spectacular this nature of ours is and that all answers are available to us when we reconnect with our source and with those who know how to be nurtured by it. I felt my soul being replenished today as I watched the deer, watch me. The little kid just following his mother around - - not letting go --all the while the Mama goat was trying to get away, just for a spell. But, never too far. So, I left him posing turning back toward home having considered myself quite blessed to see goats, geese (okay so they were make-believe) and a beautiful deer. The sun was about to set and I decided I was getting a bit hungry when I saw this lovely catcus with a bougenvilla growing through it. I had passed this house thousands of times and never, ever noticed the cactus until today. So...on go the flip flops, grab my camera, out of "Sil"and up to the fence I go. Busted...the fellow who lives there came on over to the fence and invited me in for a better shot with the sun behind me. Beautiful flowers, but really big dogs. I certainly appreciated his Texas hospitality. This road led me to so much and all this time I've traveled it without a lot of thought except to watch the house be renovated into a beautiful setting or a few other houses being built among the lush trees. I was intrigued to learn that this kindly gentleman that welcomed me so openly into his yard, owns a small Texas History Shop that sits close to the Alamo in San Antonio. So he leads me down the road to his house and shows me this beautiful Eagle that sits on his front porch. And he gives me my history lesson for the day:

The Battle of Glorieta Pass The Battle of Glorieta Pass was dubbed the "Gettysburg of the West" by historians, it was the decisive blow by Union forces to stop the Confederate invasion of the West along the base of the Rocky Mountains. The commanders of the New Mexico Campaign were the Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley and the Union Col. Edward Canby. Sibley had outmaneuvered Canby at the Battle of Valverde in February, driving Canby back to his fort, then advancing up along the Rio Grande Valley to seize Santa Fe on March 10. Sibley set up his division headquarters at the abandoned Union storehouse garrison at Albuquerque.

At the southern tip of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 20 miles southwest of Sante Fe in northern New Mexico, is La Glorieta Pass, through which runs the old Sante Fe Trail. Sometimes called Apache Canyon, the pass is several miles long, about a 1/4 mile wide at the middle, and tapers to narrow defiles at both ends. Ordered on March 25 to move against the Confederates force at Santa Fe, Maj. John M. Chivington and a raiding party of 418 Union soldiers arrived at Kozlowski's ranch, about 5 miles southeast of La Glorieta. From Confederate pickets captured that night, Chivington learned of the presence of 250-300 Texans under Maj. Charles L. Pyron bivoucked at Johnson's ranch at the far end of the pass.

Early in the morning of March 26, Chivington moved toward the Confederates. About 2:00 P.M., his men captured a 30-man Confederate advance, then fell on Pyron's main force 1.5 miles west of Pigeon's ranch, which lay 6 miles northeast of Johnson's ranch. With his advance guard taken by the Federals, Pyron was caught by surprise, but he quickly threw out a skirmish line, and his 2 6-lb. howitzers began firing shells at the Federals. The artillery fire sent the Federals into confusion until Chivington divided his troops, sending 3 companies to find cover in the rocks and deploying 2 companies in the cottonwood and pines along the mountain slopes on each side of the canyon; this placed the Confederates in a crossfire. The Texans held their ground briefly before Pyron withdrew about 1.5 miles to where the pass narrows. There, he was able to establish a stronger defense. As they pulled back, the Texans destroyed the bridge they had used to cross a 15-foot arroyo. Again, Chivington sent his men to the slopes, but in increased numbers, to counter the Confederate skirmishers Pyron had ordered to the brush. The Federals flanked the Texans and poured another severe enfilading fire on them for an hour before Pyron's men broke. As the Confederates retreated with their guns, the Union cavalry charged, jumping their horses across the arroyo and landing in the midst of the Confederate rear guard. Gathering 60 or 70 prisoners, Chivington withdrew to Kozlowski's ranch, having lost 19 killed, 5 wounded, and 3 missing. The Confederates claimed casualties of 16 dead and 30-40 wounded in the day's fighting.

As his men reorganized at Johnson's ranch, Pyron sent for reinforcements from Lt. Col. William R, Scurry at Galisteo, 15 miles south of La Glorieta. Scurry arrived with the 4th Texas on the morning of March 27, bringing the Confedeate force to 1,100 men. They waited 24 hours at Johnson's ranch, expecting Chivington to renew the attack. When the Federals failed to act, Scurry decided to take the offensive. On the morning of March 28, he moved down the canyon toward Pigeon's ranch, leaving behind his 73-wagon supply train and, to guard the camp, a detachment of 200 men, most of them wounded, drivers, or cooks. About 2:00 A.M. the same morning, Col. John P. Slough had reached Kozlowski's ranch with reinforcements. Chivington briefed him on the Confederate position and Slough decided to launch an attack against Johnson's ranch, moving toward Pigeon's ranch about 8:30 A.M. He ordered Chivington to take his men and circle around La Glorieta Pass to attack the Texans from the west, intending to catch the Confederates between the 2 Union forces. Slough moved toward La Glorieta with about 900 men, arriving a mile west of Pigeon's ranch. By that time, Scurry had advanced down the canyon, and his scouts saw the Union column approaching. Immediately, he ordered his cavalry to the rear, where they dismounted and formed a battle line. Slough discovered the Confederate line at 800 yards, and the battle began between 10:30-11:00 A.M. Slough's 8 field guns battered the Texans artillery into uselessness, but the Confederates were able to keep a company of the 1st Colorado from moving around their flank. Slough yielded ground. Five times the Confederates charged, losing all of their field officers killed or wounded. They finally broke under 6 volleys from Slough's artillery, followed by a bayonet charge, but retook their lines when the Union troopers were repelled by a deadly barrage of gunfire from the Texan sharpshooters. The fighting ended about 5:00 P.M., when Slough retreated to Pigeon's ranch. Scurry also withdrew, leaving his wounded on the field. Initially, Scurry believed he had repeated the Confederate victory at Valverde, where a month earlier, Brig. Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley's troops had defeated a Union force under Col. E.R.S. Canby. Later, he learned that Chivington had reached Johnson's ranch, but burned the Confederate supply wagons, bayoneted 500-600 mules and horses, and captured 17 prisoners. Chivington had destroyed nearly all of the Confederates' supplies, forcing the Confederates to withdraw to Texas, thus giving the victory to the Union. So complete was their devastation that during a truce in the early evening, the Texans even had to borrow Union shovels to bury their dead. Scurry was forced to retreat to Santa Fe, the first step on the long road back to San Antonio, Texas. The fighting then ended as Slough retired first to Pigeon’s Ranch and then to Kozlowski’s Ranch. Scurry soon left the field also, thinking he had won the battle. Chivington’s men, however, had destroyed all Scurry's supplies and animals at Johnson's Ranch, forcing him to retreat to Santa Fe, the first step on the long road back to San Antonio, Texas. The Federals had won and, thereby, stopped Confederate incursions into the Southwest. Glorieta Pass was the turning point of the war in the New Mexico Territory. Canby was promoted to brigadier general 3 days after his victory.

Mr. New -Stranger- on- the- Road- I- Travel- to- Home was happy to palaver of his adventures and his historical knowledge to a complete stranger. No, wait - isn't there an old saying about: "A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet?" I found that old saying to be quite true today.

Where did he find the beautiful Eagle - it reminded me of someone who loves Eagles, in all their splendor, and I wanted to be able to share the history. As the story goes, it was housed during this Battle of Glorieta Pass at a saloon where the soldiers would come in and often times it became a shooting target...not necessarily as a specific site...it just happened to be in the line of fire. Now it's safe and secure on the front porch never to be shot at again!

BACK ON THE ROAD HOME ~

With that lesson in nature, a little nurturing of the soul and history lesson to boot, I ventured down the road to my own road - - leading me to my safe haven of Jade Oaks

and the road that leads to my home. I hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July, enjoyed your freedom, took in a bit of nature and spent time with your family and took a road to somewhere you've never been before...for the memories.

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.