P52 - Week 52 - melt in your mouth

As you can see, my snowman obsession knows no bounds!


But seriously, aren't these guys fun?!?!?

They don't look quite as cute as the ones I saw pinned on Pinterest, but I did my level best and the niece and nephews for whom they were made will simply love them! And on top of that, I had fun making them! I'll use slightly smaller marshmallows next time, but otherwise, I probably won't change much.

And with that, we close out this project for the year! I've tried to do these projects before, but always found some reason to call it quits long before even the half way point. So I'm feeling pretty good about myself to have made it to the finish line.

So ... Happy New Year everyone (even though that's still more than a week away)! I pray the best of your past will be the worst of your future!

P52 - Week 51 - T'was the Morning Before Finals

He's SO CLOSE to the finish line for this semester! And he's running low on energy ...


But thankfully he has his bulldogges to provide physical and emotional support! The three of them will snooze like this until breakfast is ready (for all 3 of them) then the Boy will get busy with starting his day for real. This Boy loves his pups! And as you can tell, they love him right back!

What a blessing!

P52 - Week 50 - Recipe for Academic Success

"So you think you want to be a (Renaissance) Baker?!"

Wonder Boy cooked up (yes, sad little pun intended!) this "game show" idea as part of a project for his World History class. I thought it was a pretty clever way to tackle the project. Many of the kids in class paired up to work on this project, but the Boy found himself the odd man out this time, so he had to get creative in a way to involve others without actually making them part of the work-side of the project.


As part of the project, he had to bake some fresh bread using a recipe for "Rustic Rye Bread" we found on-line. It turned out GREAT and I'm glad that we got to enjoy that part of the project at home (he only needed photos of him baking for the project).

I say it a lot, but I'm going to repeat myself here: I am SO PROUD of the effort that the Boy puts into his school work! As has become "the norm" for the end of a semester, he is bogged down with multiple projects and exams - all with due dates before the holiday break! But he just puts his head down and gets his work done. And as proud as I feel about the grades he brings home, it is his effort and attention to detail that truly warm my heart!

P52 - Week 49 - the Mythical Texas Snow Beast

Just looking at this photo brings a chuckle to my heart! This freak snow shower (we got 4"!) was Wonder Mutt's first time to have the opportunity to prance about in a white carpeted lawn like this.


The snow didn't last long. Wonder Boy didn't even get a day off from school (& he really was hoping for one). But while it lasted, Wonder Mutt here couldn't bear to come inside! He simply HAD to examine each and every fluffy flake in his yard. He pushed his little snout right down in it and plowed across the yard again and again and again.

When it did finally melt away (about 30 hours after the initial snow fall), he was exhausted and slept for the better part of two days!

Maybe it's best that we live deep in the heart of Texas where this kind of precipitation is a rarity - he might run himself to death if it stayed on the ground for weeks or months at a time! That's something we'll have to consider if we ever have the opportunity to relocate.

P52 - Week 48 - My World

We usually try to get out for our annual family photo some time in early November, but that just wasn't in the cards this year. In the end, I think it all worked out for the best as we had the PERFECT day, in the PERFECT location for photos today!


The two are most certainly my whole world! They make me smile even on my darkest days and when we share our best days, those days become even more incredible! I am so blessed to have them in my life and I hope this photo will serve as a reminder of just how blessed one can be in this life.

P52 - Week 47 - Holiday Cheer

As is our custom, we pulled out our Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving and started getting he house prepared for the holiday season to come.


I'll admit though, I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year, so to help move me in that direction, I broke out my paints and the table top easel my guys gave me for my birthday and came up with this fun little guy.

I have been noticing over the past few years that I have "a thing" for snowmen. Maybe that is because we live in such a warm climate that snowmen are almost a figment of fantasy. One of these years, it is my dream to spend the holidays somewhere that we can have a white Christmas and maybe I'll finally get to build one of these guys for real!

P52 - Week 46 - Birthday Blooms

We picked up these yellow roses for Nanny's celebration of life gathering back in the spring. After the service, we planted them in the front yard and they have been such a bright, beautiful reminder of my mom!


But as lovely as these have looked over the last 6 months, it is nothing to the spectacular show they are putting on now! And that seems entirely perfect as this week would have been Nanny's 71st birthday and a bouquet of brilliant yellow roses like this would have made her birthday dreams come true.

Happy birthday in Heaven Mom! I love you and miss you more than I can properly express, but when I see these bright yellow blooms welcoming me home when I pull into the drive, I feel just a little bit closer to you.

P52 - Week 45 - Mr. & Mrs.

I'm so excited to share this week's photo!


This young man came to work for me a few years ago. He quickly outgrew his role in my group and has moved on to bigger and better things, but I am thankful that we still get the opportunity to work together off and on.

He's always been pretty hush-hush when it comes to his private life, but he took that to new heights and surprised us all when he scheduled a last-minute day of leave so that he and this sweet lady could tie the knot. Just like that!

I am so glad they let me do this little photo shoot as my way of congratulations. I got a rare glimpse into their world outside of work and it looks like a great place to be! I wish them many more years together, now as Mr. and Mrs.!

P52 - Week 44 - Second Showing

Fun fact: I'm addicted to radio call-in games!

Over the years, by playing these games, I've managed to win a wide range of fun treats! I picked up some cash one year ON MY BIRTHDAY. It's not unusual to be awarded restaurant gift certificates. And once, Wonder Dad and I ended up with tickets to see the American Gladiators in a live show!

This fall, I lucked out and picked up tickets to the Texas Renaissance Festival! We try to make it there each year, but it is always more fun when you get to go for FREE!


This fire-wielding fellow's name is Arsene. We had the pleasure of catching his act at the Colorado Renaissance Festival when we were visiting Colorado Springs in August and we enjoyed him every bit as much this second time around. In fact, I think I may have enjoyed this performance even more because I had a scare that I had lost my cell phone back in Colorado. And since that was not weighing on me this time, I was able to fully enjoy the show!

It's been a tough month, but it sure has been nice to have this little escape back in time to take our minds off of things!

P52 - Week 43 - Dapper Dan Man

It's orchestra concert night at Wonder Boy's high school, so it's a chance to see our favorite guy get dressed to the 9s in his tux!

He's in need of a hair cut, so he had to use a generous amount of pomade (actually, hair gel) to get this dapper look down, so we dubbed him our "Dapper Dan Man!"


Two points if you know the movie reference!

Now ... off to the concert!

P52 - Week 42 - the Grands

It's been a long couple of weeks, planning Papi's funeral. The headaches have been constant along with the ache in my heart.

But this bunch right here (& a few more not in the frame) has kept me going in large part.


I am glad that most of them really don't understand why everyone is so blue. They have cookies and punch and all of the cousins are together - a set of circumstances that is usually reserved for holidays - so to them, it feels a lot like a party.

And really, THAT is what Papi would have wanted. Like my sweet mom that went earlier this year, Papi really didn't do depressing. He did big laughs, family, and he NEVER turned down a cookie and a Coke-a-cola. So raise your bright red can of carbonated sugar water, take a bite of your favorite cookie, and wish our favorite guy a peaceful passing!

P52 - Week 41 - Papi

I really don't know where to start. I really don't want to start at all.

My Papi passed away last week and my heart is too heavy for comment. So I will just leave this here. It is probably my favorite photo of the two of us - at least my favorite with me as an adult, taken a few Christmases ago.


I love you Papi. And I will miss you forever and a day.

P52 - Week 40 - Super Sweet 16

Sixteen is a serious milestone! Wonder Boy is not one for big celebrations but we can't let a bid day like this go by without some kind of shin dig to mark the occasion.


The Boy requested his all time favorite dinner - carnitas served in bacon taco shells - and a nice big pizookie for dessert.

We've had a tough week, so ordering up a favorite dinner and dessert was the very least we could do! And in the end, I think he had a good day.

As for me, I really can't gush enough with how proud we are of this young man. He is the light in our lives! I love his wacky sense of humor and his insatiable curiosity. I admire his self confidence and his gentle heart.

I am so proud of this amazing SIXTEEN year old! He is my favorite 16 year old in the history of 16 year olds.

P52 - Week 39 - Double Trouble

Oh, these two! Talk about Trouble with a capital T!


These two are just a match made in heaven! Wonder Boy loves his Mutt and the Mutt thinks the Boy simply belongs to him.

Wonder Mutt gets to share a room with the Boy and that means cuddles like this are common place!

P52 - Week 38 - Mr. Musica

I gush about it all the time, but I am just in AWE with Wonder Boy's musical abilities. Everything started with the viola, it grew exponentially with the piano, and now seems to be capped off by the classical guitar. The Boy's musical gifts are just that ... GIFTS ... to the whole family. Even the furry, four-legged family members love it when he plays.


But it is Wonder Dad and I that seem to get the most out of practice time at our home!

I know Wonder Dad took a huge leap of faith when he sold off his own electric bass guitar to make this particular musical endeavor possible for the Boy. But it has evolved into such a special time for us, I am so glad he was willing to make that personal sacrifice for the enjoyment of the whole family.

The Boy has started some on-line lessons and we are hoping that it will work out for him as I think he's picked up about all that he can from watching YouTube videos.

P52 - Week 37 - Birthday Mutt

It's Wonder Mutt's 4th birthday, but you would never know it to see him - he thinks he's still 4 MONTHS old!


For his big day, we let him have another go at the squeaker toy he was given by the staff at the place where were occasionally board him and the puppy princess. He was much more ready to attack the little fuzzy treasure this time around, but I think he found his greatest joy in playing keep-away from the puppy princess! He must have charged back and forth across the backyard for the better part of an hour trying to entice her into giving chase!

All in all, I think it was one of the best gifts we could have given to him!

P52 - Week 36 - Music Calms the Savage Beast

Our puppy princess might not appreciate being called a "beast," but she really does love listening to the Boy practice his musical instruments.


We ALL enjoy it actually, especially on a weary Friday evening like this one.

We are all beginning to adjust to the new schedule that comes with the new school year. Wonder Boy is adjusting to the increased workload his teachers are expecting from him. And we're all doing our best to establish a "new normal."

So it was especially nice when the Boy pulled out his guitar for a little practice tonight. He played for over an hour and even took some requests towards the end. It was the PICTURE PERFECT way to unwind at the end of a long week!

P52 - Week 35 - A Minor Delay

It's been an "interesting" week around these parts as Hurricane Harvey tore its way across Texas. We are so blessed to have been spared the worst. In fact, we only had to hunker down and endure a bit of cabin fever while the winds and rain howled outside.

For the Boy, however, the biggest impact was that his summer vacation was extended by an extra day due to the storm.


He's ready to go back, regardless of what he says. He's been considerably more idle this summer than in any summer I can recall. And I know he craves routine and structure almost as much as I do. But even more than that, I know he's ready to be with his friends again.

I hope he has a FANTASTIC sophomore year!

P52 - Week 34 - The Monday Blues

This sad little face sums up exactly how I feel about Mondays most of the time:


But despite his forlorn look, he was such a cuddly, snuggly, little ball of bulldogge! He was a bit unsure about playing on the slick floors, but once he was in my arms, he was a licking machine!

It's just what the doctor ordered, imho!

P52 - Week 33 - Be Still My Heart

I'm having one of those "mommy moments." My Wonder Boy (Wonder Guy?) is on the door step of his sophomore year of high school, tenth grade; he's also a few weeks away from turning 16 years old (& all that that entails) and my heart is all mush.


I'm excited for him and I simply LOVE watching him grow and change and ... I don't know ... EVOLVE ever more into such a fine young man. It's not that I miss the days when a kiss from mom and a chocolate chip cookie made for the BEST.DAY.EVER for him. It's not that he's filled with teenage angst. But I still find myself clutching to every possible minute with him right now.

I don't want to return to the past (though I certainly like to reflect on it on a regular basis) but I'll admit that I'm in no rush to meet the future either. I truly want to embrace this particular moment that is so ripe with possibility.

P52 - Week 32 - Barbara Manatee

Barbra Manatee (Manatee, Manatee)
You are the one for me (one for me, one for me)
Sent from up above (up above, up above)
You are the one I love (I love, I love, I love)"

This week's share is two-fold. First ... look at that sweet face!

Wonder Mutt's breeder has a new litter that has just opened their eyes and they are cute and cuddly and everything wonderful that is a new pup!

As I was going through the pictures, I kept thinking that the pups reminded me of .... I couldn't put my finger on it, but I kept thinking there was SOMETHING about these sweet little beasts that struck a chord with me.

These little guys are only a few weeks old, eyes only open about 3 days. And while they have started to move around in their little nest, on top of blankets, carpet, and one another they really don't have their "sea legs" yet. So when we brought them out on the hard wood floors, the were having a hard time getting good enough purchase to stand for more than a couple of seconds. So instead, they kind of "swam" around the living room. And that got me to thinking that their body shape, heavy in the front and tapering to the hind legs, really made them look like manatees!

And I can't even start to think about manatees without recalling the days when the Veggie Tales silly song "Barbara Manatee" was a favorite in our home! In fact, I expect to carry the melody with me for at least the rest of the day now that the thought is firmly planted in my mind. I hope you will too! And if you have never had the pleasure of hearing this little ditty ... well ... check it out here!

P52 - Week 31 - All who wander are not lost

My guy just LOVES to hike! Put a pack on his back and set him off where you can no longer hear the sounds of city life and he can motor up and down the trails from dawn to dusk. It's his happy place. And thankfully, it's mine as well!


This particular snap was taken on our last full day of hiking in Colorado this summer, on the Palmer Lake Reservoirs trail. We had tried to make our way to the upper reservoir the day before, but got rained out. We were so pleased when the clouds dispersed and gave us one more day on the trail to give this hike a second go around!

The trail was not technical by any means, but it climbs almost 900 ft in elevation in only about 2 miles of trail and that makes for one heck of a workout!

We say it every year, but it bears repeating ... you just can't go wrong in Colorado! No matter what direction you turn, Nature's beauty surrounds you. While we enjoy the challenge of some trails over some others, it still never fails to take my breath away! And I really hope that we can make it four-in-a-row next summer!

P52 - Week 30 - The mountains are calling ...

The mountains are calling .... and I must answer!

Each summer as July turns into August and we here in Texas turn up the A/C another degree or two (or ten!), the call of the mountains becomes SO strong. And I am blessed beyond measure to be able to answer that call again this year.


We have been lucky enough to be able to enjoy a Colorado vacation for the 3rd year running now. This summer, we ventured back to the Colorado Springs area. But unlike our visit here in 2015, we wanted to avoid the more touristy areas this summer. So we kicked off our great summer escape of 2017 with a hike through Cheyenne Mountain State Park. We put in about 6 miles covering the Coyote Run, Boulder Run, Blacker Loop, Medicine Wheel, and Zook Lop trails.

This photo was take on the back section of the Blacker Loop trail. And it was pretty much the perfect way to begin our time on the trails for this vacation.

When we left Texas, we were suffering through almost a solid week of triple digit temperatures and the kind of humidity that feels like a slap in the face when you venture out of your air conditioned home or office. But on this day, Colorado was "enduring" a warm spell where the mercury climbed all the way to 83F! Needless to say, for us it was literally a walk in the park!

The park was beautiful! The trails were well marked and there was plenty of parking at the visitors center. We met several other groups and families along the trail. And the weather was just PERFECT! I am very glad that the park came so highly recommended or I am not sure we would have made our way here. It's a bit off the beaten path, near Fort Carson on the southwest side of Colorado Springs. But if you find yourself in the area, you would do yourself a disservice if you did not check it out!

P52 - Week 29 - Homecoming

Wonder Boy has been off at camp for the past couple of weeks, but today we welcomed him back home!


I know it's just a phone snap, but I was so glad to just have us all back together today that I didn't want the hassle of dragging out the big camera. Plus, this one was taken on the Boy's new phone (long story). Not too bad for low light, back light, and no flash imho.

I am very glad that the Boy enjoys his summer get-aways to camp each year. I know he is soaking up the taste of freedom that comes with camp.

But with that said, I sleep better when all 3 of us are safely tucked into our own beds.

I am trying to drink in every moment we have left before our Boy heads off to college. And this is one of those moments!

P52 - Week 28 - Special Request

It's Wonder Dad's birthday today, so he got to pick the menu for dinner tonight. I wasn't at all surprised that he wanted this dish - this one is at or near the top of both of our "favorite comfort food" lists! And sharing this here allows me to save the recipe for easy access as well!


I give you the ULTIMATE comfort food - Chicken Mole Verde! Sometimes we call it "green gravy chicken." This is one of those recipes that takes a bit to pull everything together, but it really is worth the effort. And I'll share a few shortcuts as well. But first ... the full deal ...

Part 1: Preparing the Chicken
Ingredients:
1 - whole roasting chicken (about 3-4 lbs), skinned and then cut up as desired into 6-8 pieces as will fit in boiling pan
1 - bunch chopped cilantro
1 - Tbs kosher salt
1 - tsp whole black peppercorns
2 - cloves garlic
1 - large yellow onion, chopped
1 - bay leaf
Directions:
1. Place the chicken, cilantro, salt, peppercorns, garlic, onion and bay leaf into a pan with 12 cups of water and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered until chicken is tender - about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Remove chicken from the pan and strain liquid through a fine strainer. Reserve 4 cups of the broth for the mole. I freeze the rest for later use.
4. Set chicken aside and begin preparing the mole.


Part 2: Preparing the Mole Verde
Ingredients:
8 - 10 oz. tomatillos, peeled and chopped
4 - jalapeños, chopped (leave seeds)
1 - bunch cilantro
1 - tsp kosher salt
2 - cloves garlic, chopped
2 - 8-inch flour tortillas, toasted
3 - Tbs olive oil or grapeseed oil
Directions:
1. Heat tomatillos and jalapeños in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about 10 minutes.
2. Transfer to a blender with cilantro, salt, garlic, tortillas, and 1 cup of the chicken broth; puree.
3. Heat the oil in a 6-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat; add tomatillo puree to the oil - be very careful as it will sputter quite a bit. Cook, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes, until the puree thickens into a paste.
4. Whisk in remaining chicken broth, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often for about 30 minutes until it reaches a gravy-like consistency. 5. Shred the chicken and add to the mole. Cook about 5 - 10 minutes until the chicken is completely heated.

I know that's a lot of work, but TRUST ME, it is SO worth it!

Now ... I mentioned some short cuts. Often, if I have some of the left-over chicken broth in the freezer, I will skip the first part where you prepare the chicken and will use whatever chicken I have on hand. I make this chicken a lot, so it is not uncommon for me to have chicken in the fridge or freezer that can be used. You could pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store if you are really short on time. I prefer that to canned or just straight-up, plain boiled chicken. But by not having to worry about the chicken, you cut quite a bit of prep time off of this recipe.

We like to serve this as shown in the photo above, with plain old white rice. It is a stick-to-your ribs kind of meal and there is never a bad time to serve it. It also pairs very well with Spanish rice and tortillas. And if you are looking for a slightly-more-elegant looking meal, don't shred your chicken. Leave the pieces whole and ladle the sauce on top of them. I like shredding because it really helps to get the chicken to soak up the flavor, but it is not a requirement.

Anyway ... I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!

P52 - Week 27 - Mas Musica

I've made no secret about the fact that my dear Wonder Boy loves to make music (nor that I love to HEAR HIM make music)! Since school got out for the summer, he's been hinting around that he'd like to add another instrument to his répertoire.


The boy's dad was generous enough to let him test the waters with his electric guitar and Wonder Boy hit the ground running. But the modern, metallic quality of sound from an electric instrument was not the tone that spoke to the Boy's heart. So we traded in a bass guitar that was gathering dust in a closet and indulged the boy with a classical acoustic guitar for his learning pleasure.

He jumped in with both feet and after only a few quick YouTube lessons, he was strumming out some really nice tunes! We're hoping when his summer travel is done, to find him a local tutor to at least cover the basics with him. But I have to tell you, as much as the Boy loves piano, as much as he enjoys his viola, he seems to have a real knack for the guitar!

And my ears are loving every minute of it!

P52 - Week 26 - Granny's Girls

This weekend was the annual family reunion for my dad's side of the family. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to the big gathering, but we did find the time for a Sunday-after-church lunch with some of the cousins.


Believe it or not, but I'm the "baby" of this particular group. And I spent most of my childhood trying to keep up with or be like one of these ladies. We were the first 4 born on this side of the family. Four girls in a row. Followed by 4 rowdy boys (a 5th came much later, but he's every bit as rowdy as the others)!

Oh, who am I kidding? We were ALL a rowdy crew! The second generation of the "Grassbur Hill Bunch" (our parents being the 1st gen gang).

Being a gaggle of girls, we, of course, didn't always see eye to eye. And, being the youngest of the bunch, I was probably considered a nuisance most of the time. But this group right here probably knows me better than almost anyone else in this world (my better half being the exception). I look at their faces and I see them as I always have - that part of "my circle" that will always mean home and family. It is with these folks, that are as much my friends as they are my family, that I find my feet when things get shaky.

And I hope they all know just how much they are loved!

Though I'm voting that we move the family reunion to the mountains next summer so we are not all melting on Aunt Yo's porch when we pose for pictures!

P52 - Week 25 - Like Father, Like Son

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing Dad on the planet!


These two ... what can I say? They are different in so many ways, but I see more and more of his father coming out in our Wonder Boy each and every day. And nothing else makes my heart so happy!

The gun show here was prompted by Wonder Boy showing off the gains he's made in a weight lifting class he's been taking the last 6 weeks or so. He seems to truly enjoy it and his progress has been very quick. It won't be long until he has the biggest arsenal in the family!

P52 - Week 24 - Firehouse Salsa Verde

I've been hoping the opportunity to share this one would come up so that I could save the recipe somewhere easy to find. So this week, I present to you:

Mama G's Firehouse Salsa Verde


Ingredients
~ 1 1/2 pounds tomatillos, husks removed, split in half
~ 1 medium yellow or white onion, peeled and quartered
~ 4 or 5 chile peppers (I like a mix of Serrano and jalapeño chilies but I use whatever is in season or that I can get fresh), split in half - leave the seeds
~ 2 bunches of cilantro, tough lower stems discarded
~ 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I use EVOO or grape seed oil)
~ Kosher salt
~ garlic powder
~ cumin
~ black pepper
~ cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to 4 inches below broiler and preheat broiler to high. Place tomatillos, onion, and chilies on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil until darkly charred and blackened on top and tomatillos are completely tender, 6 to 12 minutes
2. Transfer vegetables and their juice to a blender, food processor, or the cup of an immersion blender. Add 1 bunch of cilantro. Blend in pulses until a rough puree is formed.
3. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over high heat until shimmering. Pour salsa into the hot oil all at once (it will steam and sputter - be careful!). Immediately start stirring and continue to cook, stirring, until salsa is darkened and thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Finely chop remaining cilantro and stir into salsa. Add spices to taste - this part takes some trial and error. Go easy on the salt at first and add more as needed. I use the following rough quantities: pinch Kosher salt, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne. But play around with it to get the flavor that YOU like the best.
5. Let cool, then serve!

I kid you not when I say to be careful on step 3 when you pour the salsa into the hot oil! That is how this salsa got its name - it's not incredibly hot on the Scoville scale, but the first 2 times I made this salsa I spattered a bit too much and we got a flame-up that set off the smoke alarms in my kitchen! My guys love to give me a hard time about that, but the salsa is still a house favorite!

Please note that the heat varies pretty widely based on the peppers. Even if I use 4 large jalapeño peppers, it can be very different from one batch to the next. If you are really worried about burning your taste buds, you can trim out the seeds, but I ALWAYS leave them in and never have I had a batch I would call more than "medium."

Anyway ... hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

P52 - Week 23 - Tough Cookie

When we were getting things ready for Nanny's memorial service, we picked up some really pretty (& pretty BIG) potted plants that we used for a center piece on the table that would hold her urn. But we wanted to cover the room in her favorite color/flower, so we also splurged on a pallet of small pots with miniature yellow roses, with the idea to use them on the tables around the room.

We got a GREAT deal on the plants as the garden manager was afraid they were not very healthy plants. And I guess we should have listened to her concerns as all 7 pots were too sickly to bring with us to the memorial service. But we planted them anyway and hoped that with a bit of TLC, they would bounce back.


This little guy and its nearest neighbor are the only survivors. But when they bloom, they are WORTH THE EFFORT of trying to keep them hanging in there. A bloom like this one is barely larger than a quarter, but it's a wonderful, bold splash of color nestled in the rocks of the flower bed along one side of our home and I just love them! I'm so thankful they are toughing it out for me!

P52 - Week 22 - Fond Farewall

It's never easy to bid farewell to a friend and mentor, but saying it with a cookie cake helps to take a bit of the sting out of it.


Today we had to say our good-byes to Wonder Boy's long time piano teacher. Mr J earned his degree this month and is looking to write the next chapter of his life in another location. And while we do wish we could have kept him with us for a while longer, we wish him the absolute best in his endeavors!

He has given us all a very special gift. He has fostered a true love of music in our Wonder Boy, a love that we get to experience each and every time he touches those piano keys. But he gave Wonder Boy even more than that! He gave of his time and energy outside of piano lessons. We appreciated his visits to the Boy's orchestra performances as well as the invitations to watch him perform with the TAMU Percussion Studio.

In short, not only did our Boy gain an amazingly talented teacher, he gained a friend with whom he built memories to last a lifetime!

THANK YOU Mr. J! We appreciate all you did for the Boy and for our family. Blessings to you as you start this next stage of your life!

P52 - Week 21 - Summer Showers

Forget the old adage "April Showers bring May flowers." The last few years, May has been the wettest month on the calendar. This is quite unusual, as we typically get most of our rain in late February and early March and have already begun to dry out by the time May rolls around.


I'm not complaining though. And neither are Nanny's roses in the bed in the front of our home. They have been showing their appreciation for the extra moisture by giving us a rather brilliant display of color each day as we pull into our drive way.

I know that the dry months will be on us all too soon, so I am enjoying this while it lasts!

P52 - Week 20.5 - Silver

I know I already posted a picture for this week, but I just *had* to share this one too.

You see, today is Wonder Dad and my 25th wedding anniversary! And to kick things off, I was presented with this amazing gift:


Each and every time I see it, I tear up.

My guy knows me so very well and this sonnet captures us so perfectly!

Another quote that I love, though I do not currently recall the author, says something along the lines of "finding your soul mate doesn't mean you've found the perfect person, but rather, you've found the perfect person FOR YOU."

After 25 years of being married to my favorite guy, I can say that these 2 quotes sum up our marriage pretty darn well - at least from my perspective.

I still have many days when I am not sure why he chose me, but I *CAN* say that I am so very glad that he did and continues to make that choice each day.

I am truly looking forward to our next 25 years!

P52 - Week 20 - Mom's Day

One of my favorite days of the year is Mother's Day. It's not that I need some red-letter day on the calendar for my boys to show me their love and affection, they both do a great job of making sure I am loved and appreciated on a daily basis. But there is something about the second Sunday in May that always gives me pause.

It's not exactly a secret, but I wasn't sure, growing up, that I would be well suited for motherhood. I resisted it for a very long time. My better half married me knowing that children were a long shot at best. He had a heart for family, so I was surprised that this wasn't a "deal breaker" for him. But I am oh so blessed that he decided to ride this roller coaster of life with me anyway.

We were married for nearly a decade before I was ready to take the plunge into parenthood. And I must admit that, aside from my marriage, it has been the greatest blessing I have ever experienced in this life. So this is my day each year to be thankful that I changed my mind, that I took a chance on this amazing adventure that is parenthood. I couldn't do it without my partner in crime. He is everything I am not and it is only together that I can walk this particular road.

We actually had a very laid back day since Wonder Boy was swamped under with school work. But we did make it out and about for lunch at my favorite local Tex-Mex place. And then we splurged and went out again for dinner - though technically, that was to satisfy one of Wonder Boy's class assignments.

I think I needed the slower pace this year. I find myself trying to hold onto every minute now that the clock is ticking before our Boy heads off for college and forging his own path in this world. It was a good day and I couldn't ask for anything more!

P52 - Week 19 - Grinding It Out

Every year, since the early days of elementary school, Wonder Boy has struggled to stay focused for the last month of school. It's like his gas tank empties and he's running on fumes.


I'm afraid to say that his freshman year of high school is proving to be no exception of the rule. Right now, he's juggling state mandated end of course exams, projects in several classes, including one group project that is driving him batty, and finals.

I know he has a lot on his plate, but I also know that he is up to the task of keeping up his high standard of work. He will certainly have earned his summer rest though!

P52 - Week 18 - New Orleans

The last day of the orchestra trip to New Orleans included a bus tour of the city, which in turn included stops at a few not-to-be-missed New Orleans attractions.


The tour took us through the French Quarter and included a stop at the City Park for beignets and cafe au lait. But no trip to "the Big Easy" would be complete without at least one stop at a local cemetery. It's well known that, because NO is a city that was built below sea level, that you cannot bury the deceased. So the cemeteries are full of above-ground crypts instead.

This was a wonderful trip. I enjoyed each and everything we did - the dinner jazz cruise was a true highlight - and all of the amazing food that we got to sample. But I'll be honest, I really didn't want to come on the trip. I volunteered to be a chaperone way back in the fall. And I could not have foreseen the loss of my mom less than 2 weeks before this trip. But, it was really too late to back out. And while *I* didn't want to be on the trip, I was certainly glad that Wonder Boy had the trip as a distraction from all of the family business that had consumed us leading up to the departure date.

But with that said, I have to admit, I think I got every bit as much out of this trip as the Boy.

My mom loved New Orleans and I felt her presence each and every day. I guess things work out the way they are supposed to in the end.

P52 - Week 17 - Soft & Sultry

I found this lovely flower on a trip to Vermillionville Historic Village that was part of the orchestra's spring trip to Louisiana.


When I look at this shot, I wish images could convey aromas! Just imagine the soft, wet air you would expect from rural Louisiana and inhale the almost musky, floral fragrance of this little beauty! It rained on us later in the day, so just imagine the heavy humid air that goes with it. It really was a feast for the senses (especially when you factor in the amazing Cajun lunch spread that came with it!).

P52 - Week 16 - for Nanny

Nanny's memorial service is tomorrow. Yellow roses were her most favorites and these little beauties are blooming just in time to be the centerpiece at the service.


The plan is to plant these pretties in front of the house after the memorial service. I am hoping they will provide a pleasant reminder of our Yellow Rose of Texas each time we pull into the drive way. And since the phrase "home is where Mom is" has always rung true for our family, I'm glad these will represent her at our home.

P52 - Week 15 - Comfort & Cuddles

It's been a tough couple of days for our family. My mom, our dear Nanny, passed away a couple of days ago. Wonder Boy took the news even harder than I had feared he would. But I am relieved that he can find comfort and cuddles from his favorite Puppy Princess.


Both of the dogs have remained close by their Boy as he struggles through this process. I don't think I have ever been more thankful to have them in our lives - and that's saying a lot. I adore my puppy kiddos.

P52 - Week 14 - Snap to It!

I know last week's photo was a soccer share, but I just had to include this one as well.


When the Boy really gets into the groove on the soccer pitch, he snaps his fingers as he moves! It's something he's been doing since his U5 days and it has always tickled me. He snaps with both hands, but when he's really focused, like in this photo, it's his right hand keeping up the snappy pace.

Have I mentioned that I dig this kiddo?

P52 - Week 13 - Soccer Saturday!

Every spring and fall, I count down the days to the start of soccer season and this spring has been no exception to that rule. We're about a month into the rec soccer season here and things are going really well.


The Boy and his teammates got a new set of coaches for this spring and they are doing a BANG UP job with the kiddos! They have the whole team excited about playing. They are currently tied for the top spot in the division and if they can get all of the team to show up to the games, there isn't a team in the division that can defeat them!

As for me, I am enjoying the cool spring weather and the joy of watching my favorite soccer star take the pitch!

P52 - Week 12 - Academic Accolades

It's a proud mama moment for me! The boy and his UIL programming team teammates had a GREAT showing at the district UIL meet!


Being this is his freshman year, he wasn't in the know when it came to opportunities like the UIL Programming Team (and they didn't have that even in the dark ages when I was in school). So it was a complete surprise to him when his Programming teacher invited him to join the team late in the fall semester. She gave him some sample test materials and advised him to read over them over the Christmas break. He did that and was ready to go when competition season began in the spring semester.

The team did a couple of practice meets and then they really made their mark at the district meet!

Wonder Boy finished 5th overall in the individual competition and his team took FIRST PLACE in the team challenge event! Wonder Boy is the only freshman on the team. He partners with a senior and a junior for the challenge event.

To say we are proud of him is such an understatement!

But the BEST PART BY FAR is seeing how much he enjoys the challenge. We know that it is this kind of drive that will take him far in this life! (not that we're biased or anything)

P52 - Week 11 - Belly Laugh

It's spring break here and I had thought I would be sharing a snap from one of our little adventures. This year we got the chance to visit a "Ninja Warrior" gym in Houston, had the meal of a lifetime at a Brazillian steak house, saw a couple of movies in the lap of luxury, and enjoyed quite a bit of time with friends. Not bad packing all of tht into a 4 day weekend (Wonder Boy was off all week, but we had to work Monday through Wednesday).

But despite the fun we had along the way, this little snapshot stole the show for me:


Mr. Mess here has the B-E-S-T belly laugh I've heard in a very long time. His twin sister, older brother, and father spent the better part of a day visiting with us. And all three of these young 'uns are just the most ebullient little folks you've ever met! Their zest for life, much like this bright and bubbly belly laugh, is down right contagious! (And I hope I never recover!)

I wish I had a picture of all 3 of them together, but it's hard to get a snap of even one of them as they are always on the move. And that's OK. It's just part of their effervescent personalities and I just cannot get enough of it! I hope we get to visit again REAL SOON.

P52 - Week 10 - Bully Ball

Our bulldogge babies recently got a new toy and we were blessed finally to have enough good weather to break it out for them. Wonder Mutt especially enjoyed this new toy (a Jolly Ball with a tug rope through it).


Toys don't last very long around our house. Wonder Mutt and the Puppy Princess are both quite accomplished at "seek and destroy missions" when it comes to new toys. But we've had pretty good luck with the Jolly Ball brand toys. They are also both big fans of tug ropes. So this toy seemed a pretty good fit for them.

I am happy to report, now that we've gotten the opportunity to try out this particular toy, that it is VERY GOOD for wearing out a couple of very active bulldogges! Thank you Jolly Ball!

P52 - Week 9 - a Texas tradition

Spring has come early to Texas. In fact, except for one weekend in January, I think we skipped winter all together this year. But regardless of what that means for the many hot months to come, an early spring means early BLUE BONNETS!


Personally, I just love seeing the roadsides draped in this particular shade of royal blue. It's my favorite color!

I'm told, however, that this obsession with blue bonnets is definitely a "Texas thing." My better half is not a native Texan and he shakes his head as I swoon over the blooms each spring. He plays along when I drag the family out for pictures amidst my favorite flower and never makes a fuss about me wanting to stop the car each time I see a good-sized patch along the roadside.

I can't help it. It's a Texas thing and I'm a Texas gal!

p.s. this snap was actually taken on March 2nd, which happens to be the anniversary of when Texas declared independence from Mexico. Happy Birthday Texas!

P52 - Week 8 - In Memoriam

This is not the image I really intended to share for this week. Signs of spring are popping up everywhere and that always makes for fun photos. Wonder Boy got to kick off his soccer season this week as well. And goodness knows, that is probably my #1 subject through the spring and again in the fall. But this snap of my dad at a memorial service for my great uncle is one I just could not pass up sharing.

Technically speaking, this is not even a very strong image. But I truly do not care. When I look at this photo, so many thoughts come to mind and I just don't want to lose that by filing this photo away in mass storage.

You see, today my family said its final good-byes to my great uncle. He and my dad were particularly close. My oldest brother is named after this uncle. And in turn, his granddaughter is named after my dad. I guess you can tell we were a tight bunch.

My dad read the obituary at the service and barely got through it. He's not an emotional man, so this struck me more than I would have guessed. My dad has always been this larger-than-life character. But in recent years, especially over the past few months, it has come home to me just how mortal he really is. It's not something on which I like to dwell, but it IS part of who he is today, and as such it is something with which I will have to come to grips.

In this shot, my dad is resting on the headstone of his grandfather's grave. And oddly enough, at least at this moment, he actually resembles my great grandfather.

Despite all of the sobering facts of a funeral, this day was actually a really good day for me. I got to spend time with family that I love, some of which I had not seen since we were small children. I got to laugh about the things we did and said growing up in this rather boisterous group. I got to spend a few precious moments with those that helped to shape me into the person I am today. And I got a reminder to hold onto the things that are truly important in this world.

So I share this image in remembrance of my Great Uncle. He is sorely missed. But I hope he knows that he lives on in our hearts and in our shared memories.

Rest in peace Uncle.

P52 - Week 7 - Baby Bulldogge

Oh my ... where to start this week?

We got the chance for a return visit with Wonder Mutt's breeder and her latest crop of adorable bully pups. And while we got to play with all 13 of them, we focused our camera on just the 3 that still need to find their fur-ever home.

This sweet little lady you see right here is one of the trio that still needs a place to call home:


And I would be fooling myself and misleading all of you if I didn't admit that I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want for US to be her family!

She's the runt of her litter and there is just something about her that resonates with me. It doesn't help at all that during her photo time that she decided the best thing to do would be to curl up right next to me and take a nap - sweet, tiny snores and all!

Wonder Dad has made it clear that we are a 2-dog family and as such we are currently at our limit.

But maybe this sweet little face would change his mind?

P52 - Week 6 - Licensed to Learn

My dear Wonder Boy had one of those "milestone moments" this week - he received his learner's permit.


He's now officially "street legal." Right now, his dad takes him out on Sunday mornings for lessons. Plus, he's been in a class for the last month. He starts the driving portion of the class in just another week.

I have such mixed emotions about this particular milestone.

I'm proud of him, of course. I'm also petrified for him. Not because I'm worried about what he might do behind that wheel, though I would be fooling myself if I didn't admit that this wasn't at least a portion of my fear. But what TRULY digs at me is what someone ELSE could do to him.

This "letting go" part of parenthood may be the toughest part of all. I want to scream "I'M NOT READY!" But it really doesn't matter if *I* am ready. Time keeps on ticking. And the Boy believes he is ready. *sigh*

I believe in him. And I will be praying like mad every time he hits the streets. And, in time, I tool will adjust.

P52 - Week 5 - Hear Me Roar!

I just had to share this snap as it makes me grin from ear to ear!


This sweet little bully pup stole my heart in a recent visit with Wonder Mutt's breeder. She (Wonder Mutt's breeder) has 2 litters of bully pups just under 4 weeks old. They all have their eyes open and are starting to roam around their respective rooms.

We brought each one out in turn to the living room so I could snap some shots to be shared on Facebook. But it was the first time these little cuties touched the laminate wood floors. Up to this point, they had been on carpet or blankets or some other soft surface. And NONE of them seemed very impressed with the slick laminate floors.

This little guy in particular gave us an indignant howl expressing his ... ahem ... desire to return to his more familiar surroundings. We all had a good laugh, snapped our pics, and then gave in to his desires.

I am really looking forward to my next chance to play with this group of cuddle pups in a couple of weeks. I look forward to the puppy kisses, fuzzy snuggles, and it's always a treat to see how much they change in those weeks between our little photo shoots.

P52 - Week 4 - Soul Food

To say it has been a mild winter is a pretty big understatement this year. We had 1 weekend where things got cold, but for the most part, we've been pretty consistently above average. However, we have had a couple of cool days off and on. And when the temperatures start to drop, I can't help but crave a warm bowl of soup. This one shown here is one of my favorites:


This is my favorite, super-easy, always-pleasing Chicken Tortilla Soup (pictured here minus the tortillas - I don't add those until the last minute).

And this is the recipe, for those who also crave a bowl of comfort food for the soul:

Ingredients:
1 - tsp olive oil
1 - cup diced yellow onion
2 - cloves garlic, minced
1 - 15 oz can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
.5 cup - julienned zucchini
3 - cups chicken broth
2 - cups diced/shredded chicken (cooked) - I use boiled, roasted, or even canned chicken
1 - 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
.5 - tsp black pepper
.5 - tsp chipotle chile powder
.25 - tsp cumin
.25 - tsp sea salt (optional)
1 - cup cilantro, diced

Directions:
1. put olive oil in soup pan and saute onions and garlic until onions are translucent.
2. add next 8 ingredients to the pan and bring to a boil.
3. reduce heat and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes, add cilantro, and serve.
4. garnish with crispy tortilla strips, if desired.

I will say that, often, we eat this without the tortilla strip garnish. Sometimes we'll add about a quarter cup of white rice to a bowl instead and serve it that way. But regardless of how you serve it, this is a bowl of the good stuff that will warm you from the inside out!

Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!