Smash Cake Series

Happy birthday to you,

(Hey guys, that's a nice song and you sing so pretty.)

Happy birthday to you,

(Is this whole cake for me?)

Happy birthday, dear Myles,

(What flavor did you say this is?)

Happy birthday to you.

(Chocolate? Well, it's pretty tasty.)

And many more...

(Yep, chocolate is definitely my favorite.)

We love you, Myles!

(I love you, too. Want some cake?)

The Best Party Gift

Yes, you guessed it. Yesterday's hint, mylestone birthday, wasn't all that subtle. 

Grandson Myles turns one year old tomorrow. We celebrated this special event on Saturday with a birthday party. Lots of family members from both sides were there, including...

Granddaughter Rose.

So even though Myles was the one unwrapping all the presents, John and I felt like we received the best gift of the party...hugs and kisses from both grandchildren on the same day.

Our heart is full!

All Wrapped Up

We're "wrapping" up a visit with Matt, Carly, and Myles in Oklahoma and traveling back to Texas today. 

We came to celebrate someone's (not mine) very special mylestone (hint, hint, misspelled on purpose) birthday.

I'll have more to say about that and pictures to share from our visit when we get home.

Happy Monday!

Snowy Egret and Rippled Reflection

A Snowy Egret wades gracefully along the shore near Matagorda Bay Nature Park.

The Snowy Egret is recognized by its 
beautiful white plumage, 
a slender bill,
a small head on a long, graceful neck,
and long thin legs.

It's the epitome of elegance, despite those big yellow feet.

The Old Jetty

I walked the length of Jetty Pier, passing only a few fisherman along the way.

There's not much fishing from the pier anymore. It's become sanded in for the most part since the construction of a new jetty nearby.

I was happy to see that the old jetty looked pretty much the same as I remembered.

We used to fish here, but only when the water was calm. 

On this day the waves were crashing hard against the granite slabs, sometimes going completely across the top. 

I didn't risk walking out on the rocks, but a few brave souls decided it was okay and were fishing from the end of the jetty.

I remember our very first trip to Matagorda in April 2007. John took a picture of me on this very same jetty. 

The water was calm on that day, but...

the wind was not!

Well...I lived to tell about it...and we've been going to Matagorda almost every free weekend since.

Observations of a Beach Path

Wild sunflowers flank the entrance of the path to the beach, a welcome mat of sorts. 

A trail of footprints in the deep sand leads the way through the dunes to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico and is evidence of those who have passed this way. 

It appears to have been well used since the last time the wind wiped the slate clean. 

And though it was deserted when I was there, I can imagine families heading out for the day, loaded down with beach umbrellas, coolers, and chairs, while children run ahead excitedly in anticipation of the fun they will have. 

I did not add my mark to the path this day, deciding instead to walk out on the nearby pier.

More tomorrow...

Photographed at Jetty Park, Matagorda, Texas

One Fish, Two Fish

Redfish

Blue Fish Flounder

God blessed us with safety on the water, beautiful weather, a good time spent together, and one fish each. 

And, that was plenty. It was more than enough, with blessings to share. 

We fried up the redfish for dinner and gave the flounder to friends from church. 

Thank you, God, for a lovely Saturday.

Pretty Posies

I picked some pretty posies for you.

No special reason...just because it's Monday...and we can all use a little encouragement on Mondays.

Tiny orange zinnias, Strawberry Fields gomphrena, and velvety Mexican sage in a green bottle I found on the beach.

A handful of flowers from the garden to brighten your day!

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

As we walked along the wooded trail, we happened upon a small clearing where rays of sunlight illuminated a patch of thistles, and butterflies indulged in the sweet nectar of each spiky flower head. 

Photographed at Santa Ana National Refuge, Alamo, Texas, May 2015

Fennel Blossom

I love fennel...just not the taste of it. 

I love its pretty flowers and the way it attracts Black Swallowtail butterflies to the garden to lay eggs on its fragrant leaves. 

Count me as a fennel fan...as long as I don't have to eat it. 

Ever Have One of Those Days?

Mr. Squirrel is resting. He found a comfortable limb to stretch out on and stayed there for a long time. I've never seen a squirrel so relaxed. I can only guess that he'd had one of those days.

Photographed at National Butterfly Center, Mission, Texas, May 2015

Simple Pleasures

Tall grass against a blue sky with wispy clouds...sometimes that's all it takes to make me smile. Enjoy the simple pleasures of your day!

Sunshine and Hummingbirds

Sunday's cool front brought with it sunny skies and a small wave of hummingbirds to our backyard in Needville, Texas. From what I've observed over the years, the migration seems to be on schedule at our trailer in Matagorda, but delayed here at home. Normally we get the first significant wave of birds (20 or more) on Labor Day weekend at both locations.

We aren't up to 20 hummers at the house yet, but I did see six at once and I expect that number to increase this week.

After worship and lunch, I spent time outdoors enjoying the pleasant weather and snapping photos of hummingbirds on the Turk's Cap bush. 

It's hummingbird season and I can't help myself. Expect more hummer photos in the coming weeks.

When It Rains All Day

When you're at the travel trailer...and it rains all day...and there is no work that needs to be done indoors...and you can't go out with your camera...what do you do?

May I suggest you...

1. Go through your photo library and find a pretty picture to post. Preferably one of a flower with raindrops.

2. Spend all day on the Internet and don't feel guilty about it (okay, I feel a little guilty).

3. Count the hummingbirds at the feeders (50 at 8 feeders).

4. Snap a photo through the window of hummer taking a long drink between heavy downpours and marvel that she seems unfazed by the rain.

5. Have a jigsaw puzzle handy, because you really like jigsaw puzzles and today would have been a great day for one.

6. Knit some more on that baby blanket you brought with you, but apparently forgot about until composing this list.

7. Remember to thank God for the sunshine and the rain. 

Crab Boat

It's not a fancy boat and it reeks of crab and dead fish, but I liked the look of it in the evening light. 

Everything is improved in the right light. 

There's probably more than one life lesson that can be drawn from that statement. I can come up with a couple. Can you?

Photographed at Pelican Point Boat Slips, Matagorda, Texas.

You Don't Make it Easy

Dear Little Hummingbirds,
 

We go through this every year.

Me with my camera, you with your aversion to cameras.

You make me work for every snap. At the end of our photo session I have to throw most of your pictures in the trash.

But, once in a while there are a couple of shots that are good enough to share. Thank you for that. 

Your admirer,
Birdie

Sunflower

From bud...

To blossom...

And while this is not the exact flower as the bud, it is one on the same sunflower plant, a branching variety that grows wild around here.

We've been known to transplant them into our garden, but this one is growing behind our fence just out of reach of the mower.

Wildflowers are the best, don't you think? 

Clothed by God. 

A reminder of His care for us.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: 

they neither toil nor spin, 

yet I tell you, 

even Solomon in all his glory 

was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, 

which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 

will he not much more clothe you, 

O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:28-29 (ESV)

Windmill Behind the Dune

A beautiful scene from our Saturday morning walk on Matagorda Beach. 

I love the sky in this picture, especially the clouds.

What the flat Texas coastal plains lack in interesting features is made up for by the tall, puffy clouds that form near the Gulf. I believe this type of formation is called cumulonimbus. 

Over the years I've come to think of these clouds as our mountains, because that's often what they resemble when they are low on the horizon.

These big beauties are fun to watch build and grow. Are you a cloud/sky watcher?

The Fence Out Back

We live in a small-town neighborhood, with houses on two sides of us and across the street, but out back it's a different story.

Behind the backyard fence is a farmer's field. 

We're country people at heart and this open space makes town living feel more like country living.

But, things are changing as they often do and this property is for sale. It will probably be turned into a housing subdivision. 

We'll have to say goodbye to "our" field one day. 

But until then, we'll observe the birds and butterflies it attracts, watch the clouds move across the open sky, enjoy the evening sunsets, and count our blessings to have had this field out back for 20 years. 

And if we ever get backyard neighbors ... well, we already have a Good Fence.

Linking to Theresa's Good Fences

Extending a special welcome to all Good Fences participants!

Whirlabout Butterfly

This little grass skipper (measuring about one inch) known as a Whirlabout posed ever so nicely on a lantana leaf while I snapped his picture. 

Zooming in with the camera brought out details I didn't really notice with just my eye: a furry head, a fascinating compound eye, little clubs at the end of the antennae, and more. 

The camera lens helps me to see the intricacy of God's design and to appreciate it all the more.

Crape Myrtle Blossoms after a Recent Rain

May my teaching drop as the rain, 

my speech distill as the dew, 

like gentle rain upon the tender grass, 

and like showers upon the herb. 

Deuteronomy 32:2 (ESV)

Clouds and Reflections

It was still and quiet, hardly a ripple on the surface--the river mirror reflecting blue sky and puffy white clouds. I soaked it in for a time, getting lost in the beauty of it all, then remembered to snap a picture. An image now preserves this moment. I need only look at it to go back.