School!

Posted by May 23, 2017 Family Leave a Comment

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I started kindergarten at a small private Christian school in East Dallas at the age of four.  I have an October birthday and at that time parents could choose whether or not to put their child in “early” or “late.”  I turned five just about six weeks later but I was always the youngest.  It never bothered me and I never had any issues going through school.  However, I was tortured at that little private sect of a school.  They locked me out of the schoolroom and stole my Mickey Mouse necklace which my Uncle Johnny brought me back from Disneyland — a place I have yet to go.  My father was a painter and he painted that entire school plus the playground so that I was able to attend, but I was just miserable.  Public school was different way back then and in the second grade my folks allowed me to switch.  So I am basically a public school educated girl who put herself through SMU on academic scholarship.  I believe it is human nature to want more for your child than you had … at least if one comes from a normal, functioning family I believe it is.  When we were interviewing for private school for our little one I was more nervous than when I applied for college!  I had an easy time in school but my husband did not.  Where would our daughter fall?  We had only applied to one school (when I’m told people apply to four or five) and fortunately she got in.  My husband and I, both lovers of academics, truly wish that we could go back and attend this school ourselves!  Not only is it incredibly colorful, one can tell from a tour there is an innate, inherent desire for learning.  It is contagious for those who have a thirst for knowledge.  All I know is I am incredibly grateful she was accepted.  They attend chapel four times a week, which I love.  For those of you for separation of church and state, I respect that.  It is just not what we wanted for our daughter.  It is not a Catholic school, rather it is our denomination, which is Episcopalian — or, as I am oft to joke, “Whiskeypalian.”  I must confess I am not a fan of single-sex education, as I do not feel that reflects the real world.  In fact, I have read multiple studies where girls cave once they’re in college and they actually encounter males.  The real world is made up of both males and females, and I do not view their segregation as an advantage.  But that’s just me.  Anyway, she made it!  I took this picture from her introduction to the playground for “littles” which goes from Pre-K through Kindgergarten.  I told her to enjoy being the oldest, because she would be using the other playground from first all the way through the eighth grade.  The American comedian Darrel Hammond has said:

“Play is under attack in our nation’s schools – and shrinking recess periods are only part of the problem.  Homework is increasing.  Cities are building new schools without playgrounds.  Safety concerns are prompting bans of tag, soccer, and even running on the schoolyard.”

I certainly hope all schools will realize the importance of music, art, and physical activity.  At present I am just so proud our little one made it into kindergarten to start her new school!

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A Living City

Posted by May 22, 2017 Nature 2 Comments

There is something so peaceful about watering the garden.  Mostly I just have container plants and the sprinklers take care of the lawn.  But I love the fresh smell of damp earth stirred up in the early morning air.  I like watching the water sluice in rivulets down the spines of the ivy leaves and plop in fat droplets from our rose bush.  It is my time of quiet contemplation and a brief chance to connect with Mother Earth.  I also never know who will turn up.  This picture was on top of our swing (I finally have the ivy trained to go all the way up and over the trellis!) and this sexy boy agreed to let me capture him in a photo.  I had just caught him with his throat popped out trying to impress a lady who was watching him coyly from the ground below.  I do not see “doodle bugs” as prevalently as I used to as a kid, but when they’re around I never fail to pick them up for a moment to say hello.  It’s the same with “June bugs.”  I made my daughter hold one (she thought they looked gross) and explained to her that they were harmless and really quite interesting.  I then launched into a discussion about scarabs and watched her revulsion lessen just a touch.  I have seen lady bugs, earthworms, and garden snakes as well as butterflies, spiders, geckos, dragonflies, caterpillars, bees, ants, and moths that I can readily recall.  It is always an unexpected joy to see who will turn up.  We have some resident toads which I regularly like to pat … OK, and kiss.  Once I inadvertently made this huge, macho repairman working outside issue a shrill scream worthy of a teenage girl at a boy band concert.  Apparently he was scared to death of them.  I love this quote by the American marine biologist and National Geographic explorer, Sylvia Earle, who said:

“Look at the bark of a redwood, and you see moss.  If you peer beneath the bits and pieces of the moss, you’ll see toads, small insects, a whole host of life that prospers in that miniature environment.  A lumberman will look at a forest and see so many board feet of lumber.  I see a living city.”

That is exactly how I feel every time I am outside … I see a living city.

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On The Bench

Posted by May 21, 2017 Family Leave a Comment

Sometime after my husband and I were married I discovered an old rocker that was set aside by a neighbor on the curb for bulk trash.  I remember stopping my car and, upon further examination, proclaiming it was still good.  This did not please my husband, who was then assigned the task of hauling the glider all the way back to our house.  This glider remained in working order until we got our new fence installed.  Recently, when my husband sat on it, there was a terrible rending sound and I hollered he should get up immediately.  It nearly caved in!  However, it was really a simple matter to repaint the metal and replace the wood.  Only this time we chose a much more sturdy natural cedar which we varnished with a treater against the elements.  And just look at it now!  It is such an indescribable amount of joy for me and it cost a very modest amount to have redone.  When did we become such a disposable society?  I guess because my folks grew up during the Great Depression it was ingrained upon me NOT to waste — ever.  I love our “free” glider so much, which we restored for pennies on the dollar.  It resides under our redbud tree overlooking our koi pond.  And it is so relaxing to sit and listen to the waterfalls while watching our fish swimming languidly, fanning their beautiful long tails through the water.  The American author Neil Strauss said:

“Almost everyone who reaches a plateau where he or she is happy and comfortable says it’s because of finding balance between work, relaxation, exercise, socialising and family – plus some alone time to do something contemplative, creative, or educational.”

I think I may have stumbled upon this inadvertently … and it is on the bench.

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Pat the Bunny

Posted by May 20, 2017 Nature Leave a Comment

There was a “free dress day” at pre-school and apparently there was also a petting zoo.  This was a dream come true for my baby doll who has repeatedly said she wants to be a veterinarian.  She has been reared among multiple animals and has inherited a familial love of all creatures.  She also seems to have what I lacked, the ability to steel herself against death, and she seems to have a more scientific mind.  I believe there is every chance she could stick with her desire of becoming a veterinarian.  I have personally always felt it takes a smarter doctor to diagnose animals, as they cannot communicate the way humans can.  As a child everyone said I should be a vet, but I always knew I did not have the guts.  Our sensitive child seems to possess a steely side required for medicine which I lacked and frankly, which I envy.  She has my way with animals but appears to have a scientific bent which I never really had.  My poor husband literally almost passed out upon just HEARING the word “cervix” when I was trying to get pregnant.  In fact they kicked him out of the room.  But recently we watched our five year old witness a blood draw on one of our wolf hybrids with deep interest.  My husband, who could not even see, looked a horrid greenish yellow and as if he could drop at any second.  Because I went through two rounds of in vitro, I have a personal (and sickening) experience with “fishing” — which is what I call when the aid cannot find the vein in which to draw blood.  Normally vet techs take animals “in the back” but they know that is NOT possible with our wolfies.  Once they were separated and their howling literally shut down the entire practice.  So they brought it all in the room and our little one was front and center — watching everything up close with rapt attention.  I am not particularly squeamish but they were fishing in our girl’s jugular to draw her blood and the memories made me physically ill.  Finally they found her vein and were able to draw several large vials of blood.  Our little one pronounced the whole thing “fascinating” and our wonderful vet said she also knew at an early age what she wanted to be.  She told our little girl that when she turns fourteen she will have an internship at her practice!  Once we got in the car my little one said, “Mama, I WANT that internship!”  And I said, “OK!”  I will say I knew I wanted to write as early as the second grade, but that was when I was about seven.  I guess we will just wait and see.  The American actress and former model AnnaLynne McCord said:

“Before I was going to be an actress, I was going to be a veterinarian!  I thought I was one as a child.  I was the kid who was like, ‘Daddy! I want a kitty!  It needs a mommy!’  And my dad was such a sucker.  Every time I would beg, with tears flying down my face, about how this animal needs love, needs a home.  He would cave.”

For now, I’m content that our little one simply wants to pat the bunny.

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Creeping Up On A Lion

Posted by May 19, 2017 Nature Leave a Comment

I have always been a lover of ivy, both as a ground cover and as a wall climber.  One side of our house has English ivy on the ground, and, much to my great excitement, we have just planted fig ivy to go up the walls.  And yes I had every nook and cranny inspected as I realize many believe it to be detrimentally invasive.  I have never cared for our old brick from the sixties and I think the ivy will look lovely and elegant, in addition to further insulating our home … hence lowering our electric bills.  There is one type of ivy of course I can certainly live without — poison ivy.  We had an abundance of it growing on our old fence when we moved in and I was too stupid to know what it was.  I believe it was at our housewarming party shortly after we were married that I discovered the lush, dense vegetation of which I was so proud was in fact the dreaded poison ivy.  My sweet, new southern aunt-in-law pulled me discreetly aside and said (even though she knew with certainty,) “Sugar, I think this is poison ivy!”  And the two of us just stood together gazing up at six feet of poison ivy from top to bottom; running all the way across the entire back length of our house.  I must have looked stunned because I will never forget she put a consoling hand on my shoulder and said, “Well, it is the FINEST poison ivy I have ever seen!”  I still laugh when I think about how terribly gracious she was and how very grateful I was just to know!  Normally I love the number three but I have learned to steer clear of the stuff.  The first time I got it I foolishly took a hot bath … and it spread.  I wound up at the doctor with several shots in the rump, armed with two weeks’ worth of anti-biotics, plus anti-itch cream.  For whatever reason the only nut I have never cared for is the cashew; I have no idea why.  But I did come across this quote by the American novelist Kate Christensen, which I found fascinating:

“A relative of poison ivy and poison sumac, the cashew contains the same rash-inducing chemicals, known as urushiols, as its kin.”

I still am learning about plants, but I am proud to say I have discovered about creeping up on a lion.

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Too Cushy

Posted by May 18, 2017 Faith Leave a Comment

We have had the same outdoor cushions for ten years now and, frankly, they were getting sort of gross.  My mother-in-law was kind enough to buy them for us but they had simply outlived themselves.  I still have a pretty difficult time replacing things.  We once had a vacuum for over 20 years when I was growing up and my mother used to say Daddy spent more money fixing the old one than it would have cost to get a new one.  It’s funny how things don’t seem so bad until you replace something else.  With our beautiful new fence in place the old cushions looked even worse.  So I searched for some inexpensive ones that fit and I think look great!  My mother-in-law had given me her grandmother’s beautiful outdoor glass table which holds ten chairs.  Only six fit nicely on our porch with the table and two of the chairs are outside together nearby.  The other two are on the other side of our house overlooking our koi pond.  I dug and dug at the store but could only find six matching orange/red cushions.  I used to work retail in college so I know my way around.  After more intensive scouring in another part of the store, I managed to unearth another two.  But I still needed two more!  The whole hour was about to have been for naught when it occurred to me — why not make the separate two a different color?  Et voilà!  I think the blue looks so beautiful next to the Virgin Mary!  These cushions are but a microcosm of how I believe the Lord works.  This may be a trivial example but I trust you understand the larger point.  Just when you think your work and plans are ruined, God reveals something better He had in store for you, only you could not see at the time.  The American pastor John C. Maxwell said:

“Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision.  Visions don’t change, they are only refined.  Plans rarely stay the same, and are scrapped or adjusted as needed.  Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.”

I will continue to have goals and make plans, but keeping in mind God may have something better, I think I just won’t get too cushy.

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Once In A Blue Moon

Posted by May 17, 2017 Sustenance Leave a Comment

Essentially if something has a wolf on it or it’s blue I’m thrilled.  It can be something as special as my antique sapphire ring or something as silly as my wolf oven mitts.  I am over the moon if it has both a wolf and it is blue!  After my Choctaw grandmother walked on when I was fifteen, she inadvertently unlocked a treasure trove for my father and me.  I cannot explain it; everyone knew she wasn’t white, but, sadly, she buried her American Indian heritage.  Not that I can blame her, given this country’s treatment of Native peoples.  Nevertheless her legacy to my father and me was in finally discovering our culture, which explained so much.  It was like a jumbled puzzle where all the pieces at last fell into place.  That began the unleashing of my great love for wolves.  As I have grown older, pretty much all I prefer to wear is blue and I don’t care.  Based upon my great love for blue and wolves alone, I believe I am exceptionally easy to please.  So I was delighted to come across this inexpensive tequila.  I had no idea what it tasted like but it had a WOLF on the bottle and “BLUE” in the name!  I chose the reposado and happily made my way home to put it in our little bar.  At least I am not so crazy as to have chosen the blanco simply because the label was blue!  See?  Not crazy at all.  The American lyric poet Sara Teasdale once wrote:

“Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children’s faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup.”

I want to savor life’s loveliness, and help share it with others if I am able.  Each day brings its own discoveries and I want to uncover them … not just once in a blue moon.

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The Animals Will

Posted by May 16, 2017 Wolves Leave a Comment

I have not written about our first babies in a while and they tell me they have been sorely neglected.  The wolfies have been well.  Dakota (left) and his sister Cheyenne (right) have finally started to mellow out a bit.  I have dared to put actual pillows back out and thankfully none have been destroyed.  Instead they seem to be reserving all their kills for the toys in their bucket behind the sofa.  Sometimes they even put them back.  Sometimes they bring them to bed.  And sometimes they shred them horrifically, leaving only a red, squeaky plastic heart behind.  After eating solely buffalo their entire lives, they have recently had to change to an unGODly expensive prescription food.  I suspect they got a bad batch of their former vittles but I’m too afraid to take the chance and switch them back.  Our vet consulted with Texas A & M and the only thing everyone is concerned about is whether or not chicken will be a high enough source of protein.  So animal lovers out there, any prayers for their continued good health would be much appreciated.  They are almost eight and in the prime of their lives.  Here is a typical picture of them playing on our dining room floor.  They especially like the tiles because they’re cool, although we are certainly not keeping them out in this Texas heat.  The American author Elizabeth Marshall Thomas said:

“You can look at your dog and see that it’s thinking and has strong feelings.  And if it does, so do wolves.  And if wolves do, so do elephants.  People aren’t the only beings that think and feel.”

Just some food for thought the next time Meatless Monday rolls around.  You might discover you actually like it.  I can guarantee you the animals will.

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Paw Print On My Heart

Posted by May 15, 2017 Family Leave a Comment

When our little one was born she was perfect.  And I can say that truthfully because she got a ten on her APGAR test.  I did not even know what that was at the time but it was the first thing I proudly announced, after her birth statistics.  I came across this picture and could not resist posting.  Every once in a while when our little one sweeps her long, jet black eyelashes down, I literally get a glimpse of my late father in her.  I have written before that a couple of weeks after she was born she developed this “birthmark.”  It never bothered any of us although we were constantly having to explain it.  I had fluoride stains on my two front teeth that made me self-conscious all of my life.  Despite modeling and being in the Miss Texas U.S.A. pageant it is a great insecurity I still feel today.  The stains are now gone but the scars still remain.  My husband and I did not want that for our little girl.  The final straw for me was when a grown woman pointed straight at her and exclaimed, “EW, WHAT IS THAT?!” and then I watched my tiny one slowly lift her hand up to her cheek.  She does not remember it because she was I guess about two and a half but I certainly do.  So we made the decision to give her two laser treatments and have it removed.  The American basketball coach and multiple championship winner John Wooden once said, “Just do the best you can.  No one can do more than that.”  My daddy used to say something very similar.  It is ironic that I have not pierced her ears because I wanted her to make her own decision and yet I chose to make this incredibly important decision for her.  I really tried to do what I thought was best.  She has said she still wishes she had it.  I told her regardless of whether she can still see it or not it will always be there … a paw print on my heart.

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The Rose

Posted by May 14, 2017 History Leave a Comment

When I was nine I heard a song that still remains one of my favorites.  It is Bette Midler’s “The Rose.”  That song has stayed with me from the very first time I ever heard it.  Not only does she have one of the best voices of our time, in my opinion, it is a song that has longevity in terms of both lyrics and musicality.  I have sung this song as a lullaby to my little girl and wished her sweet dreams.  Recently she got some glitter roses and I was surprised and pleased that she wanted to give one to me for Mother’s Day.  She also took this picture.  I am not sure how well you can see it but I believe you get the sentiment.  I found myself once again going to church sporting tattoos on the backs of my hands just as I did as a child, much to my mother’s eternal chagrin, and thanks to Cracker Jacks.  Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the Father of English literature, once wrote, “And she was fair as is the rose in May.”  I hope I will always be that fair rose for my daughter — just as my mother was always that fair rose for me.  Roses have been symbols of love, beauty, war, and politics.  According to fossil evidence, the rose is over 35 million years old.  In nature, the genus Rosa has some 150 species spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska to Mexico and including North Africa.  The classic red rose began its illustrious symbolic history in Greek and Roman iconography, where it was tied to Aphrodite and Venus, the goddess of love.  Later, in early Christian times, it became associated with the virtue of the Virgin Mary.  All I know is that I have always loved the rose.

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