OHHHHH, how  easy it is to take things for granted. Thursday morning, we all heard this loud “ARGGGG”. I bolted up the stairs and asked Tom what happened. “I stepped on a sticker and stubbed my toes, I think they are broken”he groaned. I know it was excruciating. Later Christopher said” You Guys, ha ha, one of you is always doing something, you have to wonder how long you can keep up with this place” While piling laundry into the washing machine, I banged my head on the cabinet, ouch and looked around to see if anyone noticed. Friday morning, we took Peyton to school and had a great run at the park in Floresville. I tried to sprint to keep up with Christopher and asked Tom if his foot was OK. “NOOOO!!!!” He admitted. He was keeping a good pace, though. After our run, they played basketball at a nice little court in downtown peanutville and they both looked great. We picked Annie up at the S.A. airport late Friday night. Early Saturday morning we drove to La Vernia to take Peyton to his SAT test and drove back to fix breakfast and visit with Christopher and Annie. Before we left to pick up Peyton, I led some of the ponies to another pasture and rushed to jump into the truck where Tom was waiting. I tripped over the sidewalk and fell hard on my left knee. It’s a good thing we have a few canes around the house, so I borrowed one from the Rabbi and after getting home again from La Vernia, spent the rest of the day on the couch. I became absorbed in my stitchery until Bruno the parrot started screeching and all four dogs raced to the door. Tom looked out the window and said “Oh, NO, What are they doing out?” The Longhorns, Cactus Jack and Mesquite Joe were bucking and running towards the front gate. Daddy Tom Pop jumped into the truck and luckily they  followed him back into their pasture. Meanwhile, Grand Dana followed the advice of young Dr. Parish…..

He had great advice, even though I am still alive and kicking!

The possibilities are boundless….”Let’s not tempt me to spend any money” Christopher and I both spoke in unison. Regardless, his choice was to head into San Antonio with time on our hands and amazing CANON digital equipment to accent his gifted and talented genes ……thanks to Grandmother on my side  and Daddy Bub!!!! “What do you think, Mom?” Christopher asked. “Where should we go?” We both settled on the newly renovated Pearl Brewery and he shot images that will surely be incredible, while all I could do was focus on the awesomeness of the incredible gene pool that created this beautiful son…

“What is this……pick on Dad day?” Tom would always say this when Christopher, Peyton and I would start teasing him. Yesterday, it was his day and today the boys are going back and forth between the two of us…….They seem to get a kick out of it and I love it when it’s not so much about me. “You freaked out when Bubba went away to school and you still had one at home” Peyton laughed. “What are you going to do when I leave for college” he added. We were cleaning his room and I asked him if I could hang a shelf in his room. He said “Well it’s Western and I don’t like that”. I told him we would get rid of some of the Western decor. “Well I don’t care, I’ll be gone in a year”

Right……I knew that……

The Chicago Golden Boy is here to wreak havoc on Texas. He got a really short haircut, (this is an old photo)” I won’t need another one for five months.” He says. Other than that he hasn’t changed, but picking him up at the airport, he really looks thinner…..After a few days of Rockin’ P Ranch cooking, he will look even better!

My house looks like Hobby Lobby, I have a new creative outlet to keep me out of trouble.

Sequins and beads……I just made my first ornament and it is fun!

My costume for my Mom’s annual Birthday/Halloween party is called “Chino Poblano” but the skirt is too tight so I felt more like a Chile Relleño (stuffed pepper) after the dinner of salmon stuffed with crab and all the other food. The party was great fun. Lots of great presents.Tracy provided the Security, Rabbi Tom said the blessing. Peyton and Hannah represented different denominations in their Steampunk and Vampire costumes. Taylor was the muscle and Caitlin was gorgeous as a Princess. Robinhood of Sharonwood Forrest looked dashingly beautiful and kept the  party crashers away with her bow & arrow. We really missed Shana, BV and the twins, Tina & Dena!!!!!The Rabbi was missing part of his get up but was luckily able to improvise with my old riding helmet and last year’s wig. I recommend Gibson’s Costume Shop in the future…..Keep it local! See other Halloween’s of the Past by clicking here .

no fair peeking.....

Just look at all these packages! I wonder what’s inside………Someone is having a birthday party today, but the real birthday is not until Tuesday…..so let’s take a vote. Who thinks she should wait?

Patiently waiting

Look at that little pony outside my window patiently waiting for me. It is a beautiful day! Tom has been on his tractor all afternoon. The  ranch looks like a park. It’s time to ride the fenceline and enjoy the beauty of all his hard work. Just another day in Paradise !

“Don’t look!” Peyton says as I climb into the Montero. Tom took the truck, so I had hauled out several loads of my essentials before we made the switch….two pairs of shoes, one jacket, sox, iPod, sunglasses,books, magazines, fiber bars, water bottles, and more, but there was a medium sized box in the back seat……hmmmmmm……”Mom, it says COSTUME and it’s addressed to Dad!” Peyton warns me as I longingly pull back the tape………but that would ruin my whole month if I even took a peak! Every year we surprise each other and every year, Tom says “Well not this year, I don’t have a costume…. and then he comes out with some elaborate made for Hollywood masterpiece while I dash into Walmart at the last second, find a 15.00 last year closeout and change in the parking lot. The security cops look forward to it every Halloween. I am probably on the People of Walmart web-site. We sometimes do not recognize each other at first…….even his voice and personality changes to go with the character that he is portraying. I think my favorite was the French artist…..So this year we are looking forward to Grandmother’s annual Birthday/Halloween bash and all I know is that my better half will not be a Cowboy, Hippie, Sultan or Picasso. I’m thinking Balloon Boy, but the box was much too small…..can’t wait!

There are only three people, women folk in Floresville that I call true friends. I mean the ones that live and work there or who don’t work at all, better yet. Three are all at the same stage in life…..a child in high school ready to graduate, no grandchildren that we know of and not sure what we are going to be doing next year. One friend drinks too much, one not at all and the other just the right amount. One runs fast, one walks and the other runs slow. They all are in love, one a little sometimes, one with two men and the other all the time with her one true love. They all have big hearts.  They are all lucky and I am the luckiest……um, I miscounted, I only have two friends, not including me…..blame it on the ah ah ah ah alcohol. Ha!Ha!