Almost Through Cooking!

Well, I'm almost through cooking. I had a slight mishap with one of my fingers (infected) and that has slowed me down. I've managed to make everything except the divinity--but help is on the day. My family should be here in about an hour. Hurrah! I can't wait to see them--especially the grandchildren. Don't you think little ones make Christmas much more fun?

Here are some of the treats I've made--

Custard, Date Loaf, Kolaches and Empanadas

I'll fill in the divinity later! Stay tuned!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Christmas, one of my favorite holidays!! It's funny, I don't remember many of the gifts I received as a child. What I do remember are the traditions--decorating, the story of Jesus's birth read from the Bible, looking for elves, trying to stay awake for Santa, wishing for snow,  and the wonderful food. I hope to pass on those old traditions as well as some new ones to my grandchildren. This week  I finished my decorating. These are a few of my favorite things!

Just a few of my favorite decorations

I always get such pleasure from hanging the ornaments and enjoying the memory of their origin--for instance, the gingerbread man--I made them years ago when I was painting ceramics. The Santa I bought in Budapest, Hungary. Others  my grandchildren and I made and some were given to me.

I have just begun my cooking--some of our tasty traditions are sausage balls, apricot bread, kolaches, pralines, fudge, divinity, date loaf,  fruit cake cookies, and this year empanadas  and madelines. I'll post photos soon and maybe recipes! Wish me stamina! :)

Stay tuned!!

That Elusive Owl

I've been trying for three years to get a photo of an owl. I hear them constantly. The first year I heard the Great Horned and the Barred. Since then I have only heard the Barred. I hear them when I'm trying to sleep, in the trees behind my house. One night I did see one just outside my bedroom window, capturing something on the ground. I rushed out, only to find my cat, George, spread flat on the top of my truck. Hiding from the owl, I presumed. So I scared off the owl. Drat!

I have spooked one several times while walking Rufus with the golf cart. They are absolutely silent when they fly, so I usually see them too late to get a photo. Then last week, I saw one fly across the road just in front of me. I slowed down and eased up the road. There he was, perching in a tree right by the road. I believe it was a Barred Owl. He just sat and looked at me, as if posing. Wouldn't you know it, that was the one morning I didn't have my camera with me!! I drove slowly past him and then raced to the house for my camera. Alas, when I returned, he was long gone. Drat again!!

Then a couple of days ago I spooked him again and he flew down the path below the creek. It was too wet for me to drive down there, so I missed him again. I'm not sure if this was the same one--he looked larger.

So still, no photo. My plan is to borrow a call from my nephew and try to call one up. Maybe then I can get my photo. If  so, I'll definitely post it. Wish me luck!!

Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

What am I giving thanks for this Thanksgiving??  There are almost too many things to list - where do I begin?


I guess first of all, I'm thankful that I'm still alive and kicking this Thanksgiving!! :)


Then, 

My sons are at the top of the list. I am blessed with two fine men. I love to be around them and always know I can count on them.  I respect and admire them.

I'm thankful for two wonderful daughter-in-laws. I'm very lucky indeed that they always welcome me into their homes--they are the daughters I never had.


Next are my special  grandchildren--all four of them--3 grandsons and a granddaughter. They are all caring young people with good values and loving hearts. I love them with an intensity I never thought possible!  They just melt my heart.  Plus, they are loads of fun!!


My step-daughters and children  have always been so good to me! From the very beginning of my marriage to their dad, they have welcomed me into their family.


My extended family (brothers,sister, sister-in-laws,  nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, etc.) They are the best. I know that any one of them would be available if I needed them. How many can say that of their family? Plus, they are all intelligent, caring and fun people.

I"m grateful to have my 89 year old mother still with us and able to be independent. She is the smartest woman I know.

Living in the country is a dream come true for me. The land has always called to me. I gather strength from just being out with nature. Every day brings a new discovery.

My animals are a great source of joy for me--I do believe they are what keeps me going, even when I doubt my ability to carry on. Every one of them has a different personality. I love the smell of horses, the feel of their coats. The cats are fascinating to watch. And my dog is  always begins the day on a happy note. It's impossible to be in a bad mood when a little dog is wiggling all over, so glad to see me in the morning, the cats are rubbing against me, and the horses are nickering softly.! What a great way to begin each day!!

I'm grateful for my "angels on earth", people who have come into my life just when I needed them.

This will strange, but I'm grateful for having COPD.  It has forced me slow down and learn to appreciate every minute of life. I'm taking pleasure more in the little things--the sound of a leaf falling, the sunrise through the trees, my dog being a bundle of joy in the mornings, a cat purring in my lap, the changing seasons,  etc.

I'm grateful to have a fun job and good people to work with.

I'm sitting at my computer, looking out my front windows at the dawning of this Thanksgiving day. I'm very grateful that all my family is safe and well. I'm grateful that we have had the blessed rain. I'm very grateful to be living in America!  God has truly blessed me. So, all in all, I'm a very happy person!!!

Berries for Bluebirds

I'm learning to appreciate the variety of my species of trees. Each seems to serve a different purpose. For instance, the much-maligned cedar:

I've been concerned about my bluebirds as winter draws closer. Due to the drought, most of the berry producing plants didn't produce this year--even the poison ivy mostly died out and forget the beauty berries! 
But as I was taking my usual tour of the pasture, I noticed that my largest cedar was loaded with berries! People (me included) complain that the cedar takes too much water from the area, but  it does feed and shelters my bluebirds. It's thick branches offer protection from the snow and the berries provide nourishment. So, cedar tree, I'm glad I have you.

Could we humans learn a lesson from this?


Stay tuned!

My Favorite Autumn Tree

Salsipuedes Sweetgums

Shades of Fall

I hear a lot of complaints about sweetgum trees. It seems that people do not like their spiny balls. I'll have to admit that when the horses limp up to the barn after getting one stuck in their hoof, and I'm digging it out, I'm not too happy. But I remember then that their seeds are a much needed source of food for the birds. Unfortunately, this year there aren't many balls, due to the drought. As if to make up for that fact, their leaves are exceptionally beautiful this year.  Here are some photos I took after the last rain:

What a variety of colors--ranging from yellow-green, yellow, red, orange, burgandy, and even pink! They even look pretty when fallen, adding a little color to the sides of the road! The sweetgum is definitely my favorite autumn tree!


Stay tuned for more tree photos!

Blessed Rain!

We have finally had rain--3-4 inches last week and another 2 1/2 inches last night. Hurrah!!! After getting stuck so many times the first year I lived here, I didn't think I would ever like mud--but I'm loving it this year--even puddles!

Now, who would go around taking pictures of puddles? This very  grateful person!! Everything looks freshly washed--the dust is finally gone! My pasture has greened up and maybe, just maybe,  my remaining trees are saved!

Stay tuned!

The Best Neighbors

Lately, I've been noticing my horses racing across the pasture quite a bit. And Moe has been  getting all excited, prancing around. I thought there must be cows or deer nearby This morning to my delight, I discovered new neighbors!

My new neighbors!

Longhorns have always been my favorite breed of cattle, and I've been missing seeing them.  I'm so excited to have a few right next door! My horses have always been terrified of longhorns, but maybe by seeing these every day, they will get used to them. :)

Posing for  me

My neighbor was nice enough to erect an electric fence about 6 feet from mine--no chance of the horses getting hurt! When this one saw me, he came right up and posed! Isn't he a beauty?  Oh, happy day!

The joys of living in the country in Texas.

Salsipuedes Reds

One of my favorite things do these fall mornings is to ride around in my golf cart and look at the trees with their leaves turning many shades of red, yellow and orange. This year the leaves seem to be turning later than usual. I took these shots just before the rain (Oh, blessed rain!) began. Today I concentrated on red.

Poison Ivy

Chinese tallow

Sumac leaves

Sweet gum leaves

Which is your favorite? To me, the poison ivy and sumac are a tie.

Clouds

My son gave me a new camera this year, and I've been slowly learning to use it. These are a few shots I took from my front porch.The clouds were moving so rapidly that by the time I changed my settings, their configuration had completely changed. What fun!  Reminded me of my childhood-laying out in the yard on a warm summer day, imagining the clouds to be all sorts of things!

Almost looks like the ocean

Next time maybe I'll remember to write down my settings!!

Living Alone in the Country

When a person lives alone, there are always special challenges.  Sometimes it is necessary for me to hire someone with muscles to help out, but I prefer to be independent as much as possible.  So I've come up with many different ways to get things done here at Salsipuedes.

Yesterday's  challenge

Yesterday I decided to begin preparing  for winter. This year I'm determined not to wait until it is bitter cold (as I usually do) to do those necessary things to make winter easier for me. My first chore was to move my water trough closer to the barn so I would have hot water available to melt ice. Need I mention that the trough is too heavy for me (a 85 lb. weakling) to lift? Well, here is where my trusty golf cart comes in to help once again.  All it took was 5 easy steps:


Now implementing my plan!

Step 1-align the golf cart

Next, lean the trough against the cart

Step 2

Next, lift and slide

Step 3

Next, drive to the new location and slide one end down

Step 4

And just lift  and swing the other end

Success!

Now it is just a few steps away from hot water. It's such a good feeling to accomplish difficult things by myself!!

Bucket List-Revisited

It's time to revisit my bucket list, delete some items and add others. I believe life is all about adapting to the present circumstances!, So, here goes.









Old items (you will note that I have deleted some items):


To learn Portuguese
Train Bochica to be less afraid (more or less) (I've decided to let him just be a horse)
Pass on my love of the land to my grandchildren (in progress)
Become proficient in using  Photoshop Elements
Write a book (I may have to delete this one)
Learn more about web design
Vacation in  Charleston, S.C.
Visit the redwood forest
Make a good friend that I can talk to about anything
Sew a hand pieced quilt for my granddaughter (soon to be begun)
Teach my youngest grandchildren how to fish (maybe next summer)
Learn to do pen and ink drawings
Learn all about cows (any ideas how I can do this???)
Finally learn to meditate (know of any classes, anyone?) (in process)
Organize my house! (in process)
Visit Lost Maples State Park in the autumn 
Learn to do watercolor

Learn about dragonflies

New items:

Learn to use my new camera

Enlarge my garden in the Spring

Find my talent (Wish me luck)

Cook more dishes "from scratch" (in progress)

Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned--I'll be adding more in the future. And there is still that one items in my dreams--I'm still refining that dream.

Colombia - A Dream Come True - National Coffee Park

Our last excursion was to the National Coffee Park. When I told friends I was going to Colombia, they jokingly said "Tell Juan Valdez hello". I didn't see him of course, but his image was on the sign at the entrance to the park.

Juan Valdez

A person could spend days here in order to see everything. We decided to take the ecological trail. 

Many interesting things to see

I kidded around at the next sign--I should have paid attention to the warning!!

I thought this was a joke!

See this set of stairs going down??

What goes down must go up!

Well, from the top this was all we could see. Unfortunately, when we got to the bottom of this flight, there were just as many stairs going up. Uh, oh!

A variety of plants

My son took this great photo in the bamboo forest

Coffee beans on the slopes

There were beautiful flowers everywhere!

Orchids

Luckily, there were a few benches---I was more than ready to rest!

Do I look tired?

A beautiful peacock posed for me.

Hi there

A typical Colombian house was there also.

I love the colors!

After many ups and downs, we finally reached the bottom. I was more than ready to ride in the tram, even though I don't like heights!

Pretty high up!!

The view was spectacular!

The bamboo forest from above

There were great sculptures!

One of the many!

The railway station had been restored, as well as a museum.

The train station

The grounds were groomed to perfection

A lot to see!

We walked around a little, taking in the beautiful scene, and then headed back to the finca.

One of the walkways

Another great day in Colombia. I will be sad to leave this wonderful country!

Stay tuned for visit #2 the next year.