Baby it's cold outside!

Since it's so cold outside right now I thought I'd bring out a little spring in the winter.  Actually I should say a little fall in winter because, believe it or not, this beautiful heirloom iris bloomed right before Thanksgiving, about two days before our first frost.  For those of you who aren't familiar with irises, it's very unusual for them to bloom anytime other than the early spring.  So I was thrilled when a friend gave me one of her bulbs.

It all started when I was doing preliminary address varification for the census back in April of 2009.  I was working out in the country west of town and came across a couple of houses that didn't match the information I had.  So as I drove down the curving driveway to get to the first house I knew I was in a special place because of the beautiful plants and flowers.  When I arrived and knocked on the door I got the information I needed from the owner and then she very graciously offered to give me a tour of her gardens. 

Amazing is about the best way to describe what she showed me.  She uses only plants native to Texas and usually finds what she needs on the side of the road or in fields.  In fact a lot of what she grows might be considered weeds but they were the most beautiful weeds I've seen.  She has a knack that could rival that of Martha Stewart.  She gave me seeds from some and then we came upon the iris.  My newfound friend's talent was impressive enough but apparently her husband has his own abilities.  He tears down, moves, and restores old buildings for a living so once when he was tearing down an old cabin he found these heirloom irises and dug some up for my friend.  And now I am able to enjoy this unique iris whose history may goes back to when this area was settled. 

I have some iris in my garden but I will always treasure this small but interesting and unique gift.  

Bobby's dream

I was trying hard to be organized today, was cleaning out some "stuff", and came across this:

Bobby wrote this when he was probably in 3rd or 4th grade and it looks like they were maybe celebrating MLK day so the assignment was to tell about their dream.  Bobby's says:

                                    "I have a dreem that I can be a soper hero soe I

                                     can come up whith some crers that pepel will not

                                     die.  I have a dream so I can fly.  I have a dream

                                     so Billcliten will not be presedent eny more."

Well, two of his dreams have come true.  He flies and Bill Clinton isn't president anymore....or is he??  Anyway, all we need now is for Bobby to become a super hero so he can fix it to where people won't die!  My son the philospher!

A favorite!

After Christmas morning when I was a little girl I'd always want to share about what I'd gotten from "Santa" so I'd call a few friends to tell them and to find out what they'd gotten.  Or on the first day back to school we'd all have our lists ready to compare and talk about.  I couldn't help but think back on that time (so long ago) after this Christmas and the gift my daughter Kaylee gave me.  She knows I'm a sucker for the homemade gift and so she thoughtfully cross stitched this sweet and meaningful picture for me:

So I wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas presents with you!  And I think the reason why is clear!  

I'd love to hear some of your favorites too so I'll hope you'll comment and share them.  It'll be the 21st century version of sharing what Santa brought us.    



Closer

My living area is finally beginning to look the way I had visualized it before the remodel.  So I wanted to show a picture of it while also wishing all of you a very merry Christmas.  Oh, and while I'm at it I might as well show off the two most beautiful and talented people that I just happen to be the mother of! 

This will have to be the quick little post that it is because I'm off to do all of the last minute things that need to be done before holiday company and before Santa makes his appearance on our roof......well, I guess he uses the door at our house since we have no chimney.  Anywayyyyyyyy, merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  

Christmas High Tea

Yesterday an old and dear friend called to see if I wanted to take her place to attend high tea at a popular little tearoom downtown called The Chestnut Tree.  She had reserved a place with three other friends but had a last minute conflict so kindly thought of me!  What a treat!  I knew the three other ladies so I really enjoyed visiting with them and just generally felt feminine and fru-fru. 

Some of the fare were things like warm harvest cranberry dip crostini, goat cheese and sun dried tomato profiteroles, and scones with clotted cream and lemon curd.  Pretty fancy, huh???  Midway through the meal a Victorian dressed quintet arrived to serenade us with beautiful a capella carols. 

It was just a fun and peaceful way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season.  I'm so glad I have a high falutin' friend.  So before I close I'd just like to say (insert British accent here) pip pip cheerio, merry Christmas, and all that rot!!

The two quilts

It's taken me just about three years but I finally finished this heirloom quilt.  It was done by paper piecing which means I stitched and quilted it all by hand except for the border.  The pattern is called grandmother's flower garden and it's one I've always wanted to do.   

I'm also working on another quilt of sorts.  I'm memorizing the book of James and have finished four out of the five chapters.  I've memorized scripture verses on and off over the years but those are like owning pretty scraps of fabric.  They're nice to look at but tend to get stuck off in a drawer somewhere to be used "someday".  Memorizing a whole book has been like putting all the fabrics together to create a beautiful work of art.  It's really been a fascinating experience.  It's more than just saying words by rote.  Every time I go through the verses it's like having a little conversation with Jesus, allowing Him to teach me one on one what He has in mind for me and how He wants me to live my life.  And memorizing a book has actually been surprisingly easy, really even more than memorizing a verse here or there and trying to hang on to it. 

So I'm thankful.  Thankful that God has given me the ability to create something as beautiful as a quilt, and discipline and desire to memorize the beautiful and most important heirloom that is His Word.        

Views from the Crosswalk Part 2

From time to time I'll see one of my old crosswalkers come by and lately I've seen one that is probably in his early 20's. He just lives about three houses down from where I park but I hadn't seen him since he was in middle school or so until recently when he's been riding his bike by every so often.

He was a quiet kid back then, probably not saying more than two or three things to me for the three or four years that he walked or rode his skateboard across the street on his way to school. But now he waves or smiles as he rides his bike by so this morning as I was standing there freezing my little booty off waiting for kiddos he rode by again and I stopped him. I asked him if he was going to school or working and he told me he's working at UNT and drives a pedicab!!! How fun is that??

I've heard about the new pedicabs that work around the university and the downtown area and I've been curious about it, secretly harboring the dream of driving one if I were only about 20 years younger. So I was filled with enthusiasm as he told me a little about what it's like to drive one. Then I probably should have just let him go after that but nooooo, I have to know it all. So I promptly asked him what he does at UNT. Well, it turns out he's a figure model!!! And did I just say "Oh, how nice."? No, I asked, "Does that mean you pose nude?". Yep, I'll just dive right on in there with my curious self! He just smiled and said that was right. Hmmmm!

So this morning was at least a little different than the usual at the ol' crosswalk!