A Blue Bonnet Day

There are empty lots on each side of our house and the spring rains have really encouraged the weeds to grow in them.  Yesterday I noticed a little color in one of them.  Investigating I found this little beauty.

Blue Bonnets are the State Flower of Texas. 

Lady Bird Johnson was responsible for persuading Texas to reseed wildflowers along the highways every year. 

They say "Every spring the wildflowers return as a legacy to the First Lady."

I went to the grocery store later in the day and a nearby field was exploding with the blooms.

It's like they just appeared over night. 

The empty lot next door will soon be mowed (I HOPE!) and eventually cleared to put up a new house.

Sooooooooooooo.

If you look real close.

I think Lady Bird would be proud.

Have a beautiful day!

Spring

Despite the 30 mph winds we have had, I finally got the bug to plant a few flowers.

Love Geraniums!

This is a deep red variety I bought at Calloways.

I put 2 in hanging baskets in the front flower beds.

Oh my poor shrubs look like weeds in this picture!  They are just young.

More in a large planter on the front porch.

I bought the chairs at Target.  Comfy! 

Now it's time to work on the back. 

It faces west so I will need something really heat tolerant back here. 

It's going to be a beautiful sunny day today.

Hope your day is sunny too!

Breakfast in Wylie

My friend Heidi and I met for lunch last week to catch up and exercise our cheeks facial muscles from laughing so much.  We used to haunt Applebees but since I moved we are branching out to other restuarants and even shook things up a bit by making it breakfast instead of lunch.  Last week we headed to downtown Wylie.

We went to a place called "The Ballard Street Cafe"http://ballardstreetcafe.com/ . 

It's an old fashioned cafe with lots of historic pictures of Wylie on the walls.  The menu is a newspaper.  This is a crazed woman me holding it up for you to see.

Here is a close up of one of their specialties (Chateau Bubba) it has to be finger licking good.

Part of the balcony above the entrance.

An Armadillo greeted us at the cash register.  Yes it's real. Just a little stuffed. 

We had a great breakfast.  The service was excellent and I didn't get thrown out when I knocked my coffee over.    Better yet Heidi didn't pretend like she didn't know me, asked for more napkins to help me clean it up and even paid for it! 

A True Friend.

We walked the streets window shopped after breakfast.  At the end of the block there is a historic home called "The Birmingham House".  It was built in 1905.  

Across the street we found another place we want to try next time.

It's called Taste of Home.  Just my style.

Spring Snow

Spring Snow This Morning

It started snowing here about 10pm last night.  About 2:30 this morning Molly called and was stuck on the entrance ramp to highway 190.  A truck ahead of her was also stuck.  She tried calling roadside assistance but there was no answer.  My guess is they were very busy!  She ended up calling 911 and a short time later the police arrived.  I took off heading her direction while Tom stayed on the phone with her.  She was a tad rattled and a lot embarassed.  The snow was coming down so hard you could hardly see the road.

Here is the interchange she was on.

The policeman had to shut down the overpass and part of central expressway.  He talked her down and she made it safely home. 

 Leave it to my daughter to stop traffic!

Birthday Cake

I have been wanting to redesign my blog for a long time.  I have finally figured out how to do it "the way I want to do it"  and it was right under my nose all this time.  Once I get started there is no telling what you might see pop up on this page.  Bear with me.

Speaking of right under my nose!

Yesterday was my birthday.  So to completely spoil myself I made an Italian Creme Cake.  I just love this cake recipe.  It's from the The Cotton Country Collection cookbook.  Full of nuts, coconut and topped off with cream cheese buttercream frosting.  I even had a piece for breakfast this morning.  Yum!

My nephew Chris and I and the "Girl Scouts", share the same birthday.  Unfortunately Chris missed the cake.

Sorry Chris, I promise I'll make it up to you.

You knew this picture post was coming didn't you.

I just couldn't help myself.

You're just too darn cute!

Our Record Breaking Snow

Our record snow "12 inches" in Dallas started about 3 am Thursday morning. Fortunately the commute to work that day was easy. The roads were mostly slushy and wet, not the dreaded "ice" that sends you flying in all directions. Warning! I have been camera crazy since the snow began. This may not happen here for another 30 years and by then I may not even know what a camera is!

On the way home I made a quick stop at Walmart with everyone else.

I am about 45 minutes from work. I realized the other day I drive through 6 cities; Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Garland, Sachse and Wylie. Wow! I just now realized I have lived in all but one, Sachse.

On George Bush Turnpike

Trees out the window on HWY 78

The golf course.

The next morning I couldn't wait for daylight to see what mother nature had left us.

Out Front

Out Back

Mom was sitting at the kitchen table and said "look at that big bird in the tree".
One of these trees! 

I zoomed in (40X) with my camera and it was an owl.  Mom has pretty good eyes!!!

On my way to the store I decided to make a quick side trip to see what this place looked like in the snow. 

Remember these folks from the show"Dallas"?

The show was on from 1978 to 1991.  Can you believe it's been almost 20 years?
The ranch is still pretty.
I like Sue Ellen's yellow blouse too.

Bachelor 14

I am not happy with myself. I have been totally sucked in to the world of "The Bachelor". Every Monday I find myself looking forward to it. I don't think I have ever watched an entire series before, just bits and pieces and always the finale. I don't really like Jake much. I can't put my finger on it but there is something about him that turns me off. He is a little too sensitive for my liking, a little wimpy and I think he is looking for a woman to take care of him. I still can't get the scene out of my mind of him hiding his face in Vienna's neck right before they bungee jumped. Come on Jake how can you be scared of heights when you fly planes?

Despite all it's contrived silliness, I watch it.

(I just loved Gia's top. The color and lace fabric looked so elegant. Want it.)

Now this lady is a puzzler. She sticks out like a sore thumb next to the other girls and doesn't look well to me. Am I the only one who sees dark circles under her eyes? I am not going to say anything about the Goldilocks hairdo.

I have a feeling that they are going to try and make us actually like her. It cracked me up when she was wandering through the castle last night all scared calling for Jake. Silly girl, you weren't alone. The camera crew was right behind you!


Next week should be fun meeting the fams. Yes, I will watch.

On the other hand.

Tonight!

Now this is a show!

The final season is finally here!