Mr. and Mrs. Snowman

Here's a cute couple that I made out of paper mache', vintage buttons and cloth.  The arms are made out of live oak twigs.  Mrs. Snowman's hat is a burr oak acorn with red berries and a nice little vintage glass pin.   Mr. Snowman's wreath is made of grapevine with a tiny redbird.

You can find this sweet couple at Witherspoon's Antiques in Granbury, Texas.

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season!  It is my favorite time of the year...

remember my orphan calf Lobo?

Last Sunday, we had to work the cattle.  That means calling them all up, sorting them and making sure they are all healthy.  The older calves are separated and are sold.  (it breaks my heart every time!)
We had 15 "teenage" calves to sell.  My orphan calf. Lobo, that we saved and bottle fed was one of them, under my protest.  But that is part of ranching life that I have come to accept.
The next morning the calves were loaded up and taken to the sale barn.  After they were unloaded, Steve got a receipt for them and there were 14 accounted for.  He said there should have been 15 calves.  He and the receiver went back and counted again, sure enough there were only 14.   Steve thought he either left one in the pens or unfortunately, one may have wandered to the back of the pens and died.  It worried him and hope that the latter wasn't the case.  He went straight back to the pens to check....no calf to be found.  Maybe he miscounted......

Steve went back to the very back pasture and guess who was standing there???
LOBO!   He had managed to push through a chained gate, squeeze through two
barbed wire fences to get back to his herd!    Steve couldn't help but to laugh and admire his will and perseverance.   The poor little thing almost died at birth,  got sick at 1 month old and nearly died. When we put him out to be weaned, he found a mama to take care of him.  Then when it was time to sell him,  he did not want any part of that and escaped in the night...  Lobo will be around for a while....

So the moral of this story is...you make your own destiny, no matter what others have planned for you...

a few handmade cards..

I had a chance to try out my new art studio this past weekend. It is nice to be able to spread everything out.  
 I have so many projects that I want to work on that it makes my head spin.   But this past Sunday, I just wanted to slow down and do whatever came to mind.   These two cards are what I created.   I used an old recipe card for the rose card with a few different flower cut outs and transfers.   I covered the collage with old tissue paper, added vintage lace and french ribbon.   The bird card was made in a similar fashion.  I hope the recipients of these cards enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Good bye to a loyal companion....

There are things that happen  in our lives that make us slow down, take a look around and appreciate all that life has to offer.   During this busy time of year when our calendars are full, way to many obligations, undue stress we often forget what is really important...our family, our friends, our pets....

I have been so very blessed with many loving, loyal pets in my life.  I really won't even call them pets, they were more my companions, true friends, confidants.   I loved each and every one of them and when they passed on, it was hard to say good bye.

I lost another true, sweet, big brown eyed friend yesterday.   My dog Samantha passed away.  It was time. She had not felt good in a long time, her hips were bad, her hearing was going and she wasn't her sweet self anymore.  She tried to tell me many times, but I wouldn't listen,  I was selfish.  But yesterday, I heard her.
Samantha is now running free of pain, playing with her old friends and making new ones.  Her favorite thing to do was swim, so I am so hoping she has a huge, crystal clear lake to swim in until her hearts content.  I will miss her riding beside me in the jeep, doing her "alligator roll" when playing tug of war and just sitting quietly beside me, protecting me.   She was a damn good dog. 

But I will not grieve too much,  she made my life happy, made me take a walk when I didn't want to, barked at scary strangers that got too near and comforted me when I needed a friend.  So her job here on earth was served with pride and loyality.   and for that I am thankful....I will miss her, but I know I will see her again...along with the rest of my pack...

So today,  just take a minute to remember that there are more important things in life than buying presents, getting presents.  The only present that is really required is very basic...just live your life full of grace and dignity...just like Samantha did...

my heart is full....

A heart rock I found on the bank of the Paluxy River

My heart is so full of love this Thanksgiving.  My whole family came to my house to celebrate.  It was so much fun to have them all here.  We celebrated Thanksgiving in my new studio that my mom decorated with fall decorations, including a beautiful wreath made of foliage found around the farm.  It was a cold day, but we were warmed by the fire in the outdoor fire pit.  

We had a good old fashioned organic dinner, baked sweet potatoes, grilled corn on the cob, fresh cranberry salad, green bean casserole and of course the best turkey and dressing ever!  My dad and good friend Ruby made delicious pies.  It was all topped off by a nice glass of brandy by the fire.


I am truly blessed and thankful to have such a close knit family and trusted friends.   


They are slowing leaving going back to their own homes and lives.  My house will be quiet again and I will miss them terribly, but my heart will remain full of great memories, big laughs and tight hugs.  

Happy Birthday David

My stepson is 26 today.   It is so hard to believe.  .   I am truly blessed to have him in my life, he makes my life complete.  I had the best time watching him grow up into a fine young man.  From the time he was 7, he has made me laugh uncontrollably, cry when his heart was broken, pride when he accomplished what he set out to do and comforted when my heart was broken.  His heart is a big as Texas, has a kind soul and a smile that could melt the hardest heart. I could not love this child anymore if he were my own natural born son.  Happy Birthday David...I love you very much!

10 quotes

1. "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift; that is why it is called the present." ~ Kung Fu Panda

2. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle

3. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life's about creating yourself." ~ George Bernard Shaw

4. "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom." ~ Earl Shoaf

5. "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito." ~ Betty Reese

6. "Don't spend your precious time asking, "Why isn't the world a better place?" It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is, "How can I make it better?" To that there is an answer. ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

7. "A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life." ~ Charles Darwin

8. "Replace the word "problem" with the word "opportunity" in all your thoughts." ~ Matthew Keith Groves

9. "Joy is the simplest form of gratitude." ~ Karl Barth

10. "You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." ~ Anonymous

(from A Bloggable Life)