LIBRARY CARDS: TICKETS to the WIDE WONDERFUL WORLD of READING!

Last week in Dallas, I had the pleasure of accompanying my “daughter” and first grandson to the local library for “Baby Time”.  At 4-months, you might expect him to be unaware of anything beyond his immediate surroundings.  However, in observing B. from the perspective of my long career in Early Childhood and Speech Pathology, I was elated, to see him attending to every book read aloud to the children and to every puppet, responding with smiles and squeals.  Following the story time, I took B. to the children’s section of the library, picked out a wonderful, interactive board book called “Woof-Woof”, and read it two times to him.  Once again, he was quite attentive!  While we were reading, B.’s mother was at the desk, obtaining B.’s first library card.  As you can see from this picture, he is very aware of the significance of his “ticket to the world of knowledge”!

PARENTS:  FIND YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY, and READ WITH YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!!!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

 

 

THE HIGHWAYMEN -OUTLAWS REVISITED

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson-KERA TONIGHT!

Live at Nassauu Coliseum, 1990

It takes me way back–it doesn’t get much better than this!!!

Highwaymen

Mama’s Don’t Let your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys

Ring of Fire

Me & Bobby McGee

Folsum Prison Blues

Help Me Make it Through the Night

Always on my Mind

Silver Stallion

Lord, Help Me, Jesus, I’ve Wasted It So Help Me Jesus, You Know What I Am.  Lord, Don’t You Know, That I’ve Needed You So Help Me Jesus, My Souls in Your Hands.

Luckenbach, Texas

Big River

On the Road Again

I am never too old to enjoy good music!!!

Taco-filled Tortilla Bowls-TMG

 

These TACO TORTILLA BOWLS are delicious and perfect for busy parents:

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

12 flour tortillas

1 lb. ground beef or turkey

1 cup salsa

1 can black beans, (rinsed and drained)

Mexican shredded cheese

1 bunch red leaf lettuce

Guacamole (see recipe below)

Light sour cream

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Microwave tortillas 15 minutes, separated on paper plate.

Form tortilla into a bowl inside each large muffin cups with two folds on each side.

Crunch foil and place foil ball into the center of each tortilla bowl

Place tortilla bowl muffins into oven and bake for a total of 13 minutes.

While tortillas bake, brown meat and drain, if needed.

Season with kosher salt to taste, chili powder and pepper.

Pour 1 cup salsa into cooked meat mixture.

Boil and simmer 10 minutes.

Microwave black beans 3 minutes.

Add spoonfuls of meat and beans into each tortilla bowl, topped with Mexican cheese.

After cheese melts, add pieces of lettuce, guacamole mixture and sour cream.

ENJOY!!!

GUACAMOLE MIXTURE:

3 avocados sliced and chopped (include one seed)

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 sliced/chopped onion

1 large lime, squeezed

1 fresh tomato chopped

 

 

THIS OLD HOUSE and ALL THAT LIES WITHIN IT!!!

Having just accomplished one of those “always projected to the future, major household, this old house, MUST DO NOWS”  (i.e. rewiring our entire home electrical wiring that has survived all of the yearly natural corrosion , squirrel chews, etc. since  1938), we find ourselves surrounded by “STUFF”.  “STUFF” is absolutely everywhere!  You can imagine the look on my face, when told by our contractor:  “Please empty this closet, so I can get my ladder into it when I return from lunch”!!!!!   He was so very patient with me, but I was so horrified that all of that “stuff” had to make an appearance right in front of my face, and in every room, yet.  And, although our huge job is finished and well done, I am still surrounded by “stuff” and loving being able to step into my little 1038 closets.  A trivial problem, I know, but overwhelming on a daily basis, nonetheless!  Of course, I don’t consider any of my creative materials stuff-hah!!!!!!!!!  Where is my husband?  He is hiding, of course.  If you see him, please let me know.

MAGNOLIA MAGIC

We planted this magnolia tree (in front of the rock koi pond built by my grandfather), in honor of my parent’s anniversary.  During rainstorms, which have been rare in the past and frequent the past few months in Texas, one of my favorite reflection times is observing the storm roll in from our front porch, the very same view my Grandma and Grandfather watched every evening in the glow of the yellow ceiling light.  Today, the magnolia tree displayed its full beauty  with two low blossoms, opening their soft, white petals to welcome the second coming of the rain:

 

 

Memorial Weekend, 2016

Remembering my daddy today & those families who have served, those families who have lost, and those who continue courageous service and sacrifice for our country. As I watch the Memorial Weekend celebration on KERA, I remember part of my daddy’s story– every Christmas without fail, my daddy received a beautiful fresh fruit package from a fellow navy crewman, who remained anonymous to us, but who thanked my daddy repeatedly for saving his life. We never knew the details of their story, and it doesn’t matter, really. We saw presence of deep emotion, and remembrance in Daddy’s eyes every time he received this gift. Daddy (Paul McGlothing), you will forever be my hero, and you honored the U.S. Navy with your presence and service.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Diamond Doves (the Peacemakers)

“diamonds on the soles of my shoes”                   “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”

“Lucy in the sky with diamonds”

Our gentle, cooing Diamond Doves have laid one egg today.  We await the arrival of a possible second.  The female and male take turns sitting on the egg, which lies upon a very thin nest in their basket, put together by the two of them at the last minute!  We miss their daily coos, as their minds appear to be elsewhere today.  However, they are so interesting to observe during this “miracle moment” of sorts.  What wonderful pets; with the right kind of cage, they are not messy at all and provide a constant source of peaceful sounds, adding tranquility to our daily environment, as well.

 

THE BUJO & Dr. THORPE

 

BUJO

One of the perks of retirement has to be watching You Tubes on a variety of topics, increasing knowledge in areas you never had time to explore, while working.  I have acquired a great deal of information regarding my continued addiction to planning, and now have steered myself off in an additional direction of Ryan’s BUJO (known as bullet journaling.)  I have my journal ready to begin tomorrow, June 1st.  The journal pages are all drawn by hand and a ruler (may have to add a template or two in the future.)  I feel sure that I will modify pages a great deal in the near future, according to need.

Dr. Thorpe

Following the final season of Downton Abbey, one of my new guilty pleasures is Amazon’s new show:  Dr. Thorpe.  I have watched 3 3pisodes on my computer thus far.  A variety of characters developed in complexity through romance/conflict/mystery, offered deliciously by Masterpiece Theatre.

 

 

 

Springtime Do-over: Return of the Waterfall & Lillies

After a two-month interval of no-blogging, no waterfall (due to a pump malfunction), slow-growing water plants without the fresh water of the waterfall, unhappy koi and life struggles, in general, HOPE PREVAILED.   As a result, I am inspired to blog again, encouraged by the beautiful sight of sunshine, a lovely refreshing waterfall, happy koi, and a beautiful, blooming rose-purple lily.  Our HOPE did not come to us without EFFORT. Thanks to the masterful problem-solving efforts of friend, Jerry Kiser, the new pump was successfully installed and all aquatic problems were subsequently resolved.

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   Life is good again for ALL of us:

 

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