I’ve lived in towns with interesting names but they always seemed to make sense. Boise. It is a French word for “wooded” and the French trappers used it to describe the trees lining the river flowing through the valley where the city of Boise grew up. Boise is a beautiful, tree-filled city. College Station. In the 1800’s, a little college, now Texas A&M University, sat along the railroad tracks and the train station was the stop for the college. The conductor would call out, “Next Keep Reading...
Christmas Capade #2
To say Christmas was a big thing in my family growing up is a huge understatement. HUGE. When Hubby and I were engaged, I thought it would be a good idea to take him home with me for Christmas so he couldn’t claim I didn’t warn him after we were married. My family did NOT disappoint. My Dad met us as we got off the plane in a green and white Santa suit! My nephews might have been wearing reindeer antlers. That was in the days before 9/11 when whole families would wait for someone to get off Keep Reading...
A Good Summer Read
Recently a friend sent me a book she picked up at an airport. She told me it made her laugh out loud on the plane – embarrassing her husband. “Enjoy it. It’s a good summer read,” she said. What exactly is a “summer read?” A little googling informed me that “summer reads” are light so you can take them on vacation and not get caught up in the story in case you need to throw your book down and jump in the ocean waves or lake. What if I want to read a “light” book in the dead of winter while Keep Reading...
Is the Best Really Yet to Come?
I heard it again this weekend. “The best is yet to come!” Is it? Is “the best” really on the horizon? “The best is yet to come” has become a popular saying from the pulpit, a meme, a catchy catch phrase. It's meant to encourage. And maybe even to sell books. I'm all about encouraging people. I want people to look forward and not behind. I want them to look on the positive side of things. I like the flower - not the thorns. I like the half full glass - not the half empty glass. I like Keep Reading...
A Few of My Favorite Things – And I Think They’ll Become Yours Too
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. I grew up singing those words along with Julie Andrews but now I have my own list of favorite things. To those who read my words and follow my blog, I’m going to do something different and new. The next few weeks, are going to be hectic for me and I am going to be working on some new writing projects so I’m going to step away from blogging for a few weeks. During my time away, I’m going to share a few Keep Reading...
Things Are Not Always As They Seem
The last few weeks could be captured by the movie title, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” except without the trains. Or maybe the movie title, “Four Weddings and a Funeral” except there weren’t any weddings but there were two funerals. The past few weeks have been a little nuts around here and this week is ramping up to be another not boring week. At least no dogs ran through wood floor glue this week – yet! (That blog is coming soon – once I determine a positive spin to put on it.) I Keep Reading...
Showing Up
This week something popped up on Facebook. I don’t know who the original poster was or even remember who shared the post but I clicked and got sucked into the post - and the comments. Always the comments... The post was titled “Just Show Up”and was about a mom who hated her body but put on a swimsuit so she could be with her kids. The gist of the post was about not worrying about our physical appearance because the kids don’t care. They just want us to be there for them. The gal’s post Keep Reading...
Oh, Great!
Recently, there have been a few head scratching, jaw dropping, “are you kidding me?” stories in the news that reminded me of a time when... I hurriedly backed out of the driveway. Late, again, to get the girls to dance lessons. “Oh, great!” I mumbled as I put the car into park. “I forgot something.” My seven-year-old daughter in the back seat asked, “Mommy, why do you always say, “Oh, great!” when things aren’t great at all? Well, that stopped me in my tracks. I realized I exclaimed, Keep Reading...
Pool Gone Rogue
It’s unseasonably cold where I live. We're getting snow, sleet and freezing rain. That is such a rarity in South Texas so people are bundling up, going outside to play in the dusting of snow and trying to build a snowman with a fistful of the cold, white stuff. It is craziness. Last night as I went out in the backyard with the dogs “one last time” before bed, all was quiet - except for the roar from my neighbors’ pools. And the sound took me back. Back to another cold Texas night... My Keep Reading...