San Antonio Wild Animal Orphanage ...

My Mom came to visit over the Fourth of July Holiday. It was wonderful to see my Mom. I have always felt that we have a wonderful relationship...from a distance. I haven't seen my Mom in almost 3 years and was delighted that she flew to San Antonio to visit. I think my Mom has only flown have a dozen times or so in her entire life so it meant the world to me. I loved showing off my house and my city. I was delighted to find out that I live just down the road from the San Antonio Wild Animal Orphanage. I'd highly recommend a visit for anyone in the area. For those not in the area check out their website. You can see pictures of the animals and get updates on how they are doing. Many of the animals were abused, used for research, put in tourist attractions or grew to big for their owners small places.

The Orphanage is under new management and they couldn't be nicer to talk to. They are very knowledgeable of the animals and happy to chat with you. You have to be on a tour to see the animals for your safety and the safety of the animals. I highly encourage you to stop by for a tour.

Vineyards, Birthdays, Gardens...

Yesterday, I went on a Texas Hill Country Wine Tour. My favorite vineyard was Becker. Not only do they have great wine they also have a small lavendar field which smells divinely. It was a great day of wine tasting, meeting new people and enjoying lunch in the German town of Fredricksburg. The little German town is what I imagine Newton, KS might have been like for my ancestors. Although, maybe not as full as tourist as now. Thank you the wonderful people at Grey Lines Star Shuttle for a great tour!


I can't believe that Simon is 4 years old this week. He is the best gift by far that Jerry has ever gotten me. Although, he often says that Missy is the best gift that I have ever gotten him. I got Simon this stuffingless fox which he seems to like. Missy didn't like her ball so much. Much like the ones she loves this one is slightly bigger and she doesn't seem to go for that.

After my great tomato I finally got a green pepper the size of something that you might buy in the store. While not a huge yield I am SO proud of my tiny garden the herbs and veggies I've been able to grow.

Life...

Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but rather by the moments that takes our breath away. Some times easier said than lived. As I journey through life I've come to realize that sometimes (a lot of times) I get so caught up in life that I forget to relax, laugh, love, and just be in the moment. Life is not a collection of the breaths be take but rather those moments that take our breath away. It doesn't matter that my boss chewed me out, what's for dinner, the bills that need to be paid, or the shopping that needs to be done rather what matters is that we lived the moment to the fullest. Somewhere along my journey my life became about the have to's and that what must get done instead of the laughter, love, and joy of life and spontaneous moments of pure delight. I wish I could tell people, myself included, to just slow down, step out of the rat race, before you're looking back and its all gone.

Crazy Dog...

Not to be out done by Brother, Missy wanted to show her favorite relaxing position.



Oh, must be nice to be a dog...

My Harvest...

The other night we had a heavy storm. My one and only tomato was ripening on the vine and I was afraid the wind would take care of it. So I carefully tucked the plant into the corner out of the wind hoping it would survive long enough to ripen so I could pick it. Whoo-hoo it did! I can't wait to eat this beautiful tomato grown by me.



I also got some green peppers and chili's in my crop. Sounds like salsa in the making.



I am quite proud of my garden little as it is. Likely, it will be just enough for me to enjoy. Although, Missy has been eying the veggies coming in the door. Seems she has salad on the brain. Can't understand why that dogs loves veggies so much. It's all I can do to keep her out of the garden to begin with.

I couldn't resist this last picture. Yesterday I was I working on some digital photography on my computer and Simon crawled up next to me to take his nap. He was just too cute. I love my little snuggle dog.

Cracker Dogs....

This is Missy's brother. Foster Mommy posted the picture. He's as much a cracker dog as his sister is. They both love relaxing this way.

Love Is...

Love is found in the simple things in life. Jerry and I have never been into huge displays of affection. Love to me is found in the simple things. Last night after a hard day of working on Jerry's part and too short day of relaxing on my part we went to bed. While we could have easily turned off the lights and rolled to our respective sides Jerry instead laid his head on my tummy and promptly went to sleep. It was the sweetest display of love to me. Love isn't found in big fancy houses or diamond rings. Its found in the simple gestures.

Wishes...

Airplanes by B.O.B

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now

Ya, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you starin' at that phone in your lap
And you hopin' but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel in the sand
What would you wish for if you had one chance?
So we're playin' airplane, sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting Stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

Ya, ya, somebody take me back to the days
Befo' this was a job, befo' I got paid
Befo' it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Ya, back when I was tryin' to get a tip at Subway
And back when I was rappin' for the hell of it
But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant
I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes outta' airplanes
Then maybe oh maybe I'll go back to the days
Befo' the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain't nobody listen to my mixtape
And back befo' I tried to cover up my slang
But this is fo' the hater, what's up Bobby Ray?
So can I get a wish
To end the politics
And get back to the music
That started this shit?
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hopin' we can make some wishes outta' airplanes

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting Stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting Stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

I could really use a wish right now
(I could really use a wish right now)
I-I-I could really use a wish right now
(I could really use a wish right now)
Like, like, like shootin' stars
(Like shootin' stars)
I-I-I-I could really use a wish right now
(I could really use a wish right now)
A wish, a wish right now
(A wish right now)

No Toys In the Kennel...

So the house rule is that there are no toys in the kennel. Missy decided to test that this morning...



Are you sure I can't take this in the kennel???



Guess who won???



On another note my Mom is coming to visit me for Fourth of July. While are relationship often does better from a distance I am excited that just my Mom is coming to visit me for a few days. She's even flying. Which is no big deal for me the world traveler I am but a huge deal for my mom. More to come...

Year Ago...

Wow! The time seems to fly by so quickly. It was a year ago this week that Jerry and I were getting ready to leave Alaska and drive to our new home in Texas. It was 102˚ when we got here. Thankfully, this year is turning out to be a little cooler.



Jerry’s job is much more time consuming than we originally thought it would be but he had a Saturday off a few weeks ago and took me to the Wild Animal Park in North San Antonio. It’s a drive through animal park and you can roll down the windows and feed the wildlife. We saw antelope, billy goats, miniature donkeys, giraffes, zebras, and llamas. The ostriches were a not timid about sticking their beaks in the car to grab the feed out of your hand. Actually, they scared me a little they were pretty aggressive.
I hope we can go back sometime it really was a lot of fun.





Jerry and I won’t really be able to take any vacation time. With his crazy hours and me still being in my first year at my job we just can’t get much time off. We are going to take a long weekend in Sept to go to Dallas and see the NHRA Races. I have seen Jerry drag race and we watch racing on TV all the time but I’ve never seen professional races. It should be a nice little get away for us.
I think the dogs have adjusted well to Texas life. They send the majority of their day in the air conditioning napping on the bed. Actually, it’s one of their favorite activities.

Doggie Dash...

Saturday I did my first 5K. I ran/walked with a friend. It was great fun! I wish I could have brought my doggies but I don't think they would have done so well around so many people.

After the race we were SO hungry. My friend took me to try a gluten free cafe downtown. The food was absolutely yum-o. I couldn't get enough. I bought a few cookies and bread to take home.



The rest of the weekend I took my cue from the pups and just relaxed, napped and watched movies. It was fantastic. Can't wait for the upcoming three day weekend for more fun, relaxing, napping and movie watching. I wish Jerry didn't have to work so much so we could enjoy it all together but such is life.

Individuality...

The previous owners had this flower bed of red cannas. They looked pretty nice but after all the deep freezes we had last winter they looked terrible and I thought they had died so I had the gardener cut them back. Needless to say he cut them down to almost nothing and I'd been thinking about what to plant there when all of the sudden they popped back up. So I decided to see what would happen and just let them grow. The beautiful red cannas came back but low and behold there's one yellow one. Just this one yellow flower doing its own thing in a sea of red ones.

What a lesson in individuality. Doing you own thing, what makes you happy, what makes you thrive in the sea. I hope that I can be like that yellow flower. Making my own decision regardless of the flow. I think its a good reminder to us all. Thank you nature.

Gangsta Dog...

Jerry was on this kick for a while where he kept dressing my dog (Simon) up. I got him his own dog (Missy) yet he insisted on dressing Simon. Here's what I call Simon Gangsta Dog...



Missy prefers napping...

Racing...

Saturday night Jerry and I went to watch the drag races at the San Antonio track. It's just a little ways outside town but a real nice NHRA track. Usually a good crowd and good races. I know Jerry is itching to get his car on the track. He made some repairs and needs to get a new windshield but hopefully soon he'll be racing too.

Sunday was a great lazy day of sleeping in and visiting with friends. I wish everyday could be Sunday :)

Root Beer Floats

I don't know what it is but lately Jerry and I have been into Root Beer Floats. We had a great yummy healthy dinner last night and as soon as we were done we bolted out the door and down the street for root beer floats. You'd never seen two people slurp them down so fast!

I love sharing them with him. He picks up a new flight next week which he'll be lead on the flight. Awesome for his career but tons of work and less time for us together. Guess it will be lots of tennis and movies for me :)

Celiac Awareness

Gluten Free

May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. How aware of celiac disease are you? Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that can cause serious problems if even the smallest amount of gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye and barley – is digested. Millions of people struggle with the symptoms of celiac disease before being properly diagnosed. In fact, one in 100 Americans has celiac disease, and 95% of those are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. Learn more at CeliacCentral.org