Week-end Hunting.

This week-end we had the opportunity to take my nephew Nathan to my husbands cousins ranch for a Saturday hunt.

He was beyond excited!

He took his bb gun and practiced target shooting.

I think he loved the ranch life..

Norma my husband's cousin and Nathan at the blind

I think my husband's hooked..

Yes, I know he is..

We'll be back!

My first home...

This was my first home! 1508 Doherty Ave.

I loved everything about it. Back then, I thought life couldn't get any better! I remember I would spend day's in my yard making sure everything was picture perfect. We were newly weds living on a tiny budget and I mean tiny! We saved EVERY-SINGLE- PENNY- literally!. All our income tax returns were spent on fixing and improving this home. We started out by renting this house. At the time, we were also planing our wedding so, we had two irons in the fire, so to speak. I sometimes would forget about our wedding and spend the money on paint, rugs, plants... anything and everything for our home.  I convinced my husband to paint the entire inside of the house all without permission. ( I still can't believe that )  After our wedding we continued beautifying our home so much we didn't take a real honey moon (other than the beach) till a year later... The landlord started noticing improvement after all, he lived right next door... We started landscaping, watering the yellow grass, and decorating the front deck.

Before he knew it, we were painting the outside of the house. How crazy is that?..Needless to say he loved it, and felt so bad for us that we were investing in his home.. So bad that he offered us the house for Fifty thousand dollars! (our mortgage payment was $350.00 can you believe that?) we of course accepted and he replaced the roof for us... By the time we closed the pitiful hurricane fence was replaced with a nice new white picket fence!

We have so many sweet memories of us planting lantana's that could be seen a mile away. Not to be braggy, but this house would stop traffic.

We were also very blessed with furnishing our home! At the time my father in-law worked for furniture store and gave us a never before heard of discount! I loved decorating this house!... I think my camera setting was wrong and stamped 1997 as the date. The actual date was some time in 2003.

I will always treasure the labor of love and sweet memories of my first home!! After we fixed, and remodeled our home we started getting offers from people who would drive by.

 After much thought we decided to put it in the market and sell and I'm glad we did.. It was the right move for us at the time. We ended up with an amazing return for our little investment!

A penny saved is a penny earned

The other day, while at my parents house my father shows me his little digital jar bank he received from a Christmas 2011 white elephant game , he had $186.00 dollars saved in one year just from picking up a penny here and there and loose pocket change. I got so excited I wanted to start one.

I went hunting all the stores for a digital jar bank just like my dads and, I found one at the Family Dollar for $6.00 I got home and started cleaning everything!.. cars, old purses, wallets, and of course junk drawers and every time I came across a dime or penny I would smile get excited and have my day's thrill of watching the jar bank total go up. Yes little things like this thrill me..

My grand total... $8.72 in one day!... who knew? I can't wait to see how much I can save by the end of the year!... I will keep you posted!

Dreaming..

I was blown away when, I drove up to my parents home this past week-end, and noticed their Pecan tree with an explosion of yellow fall like colors. It took my breath away because here, in the valley trees don't change color. I felt for a second what it would be like, in the Autumn, if I had lived in a small quiet city up north where all the town's people gather for a fall harvest festival. If I closed my eyes at that moment, I probably could smell the cool crisp air of the fall, as it gently blows the cotton panels of an opened window...

I interrupt...

                              your regular blog-land reading to bring you this glass mosaic plate!

                            This plate is actually my sister's... we swap decor during the year.

                                                Have you and your sisters ever done that?

                           
                             The other day while helping her clean and organize her indoor attic

                      I found this plate! She had used it for about 6 months and, got tired of it.

                                  So, before we throw it into the garage sale bin we swap!

This is a great and fun way to keep things fresh looking around your home without breaking the bank!

 
This plate will probably make its way into my other sister's home then eventually to our the garage sale, but first I have to get tired of it!

And if you are wondering about the antlers.. My husband's cousin Norma's sweet husband Greg, gave them to me over the holidays and, that lamp...yup that too was a swap from my sister in-law Lisa.

Knock, Knock

                                                                    Who's there?

                                                                      Tangerine

                                                                     Tangerine who?

                              Tang you ring the door bell instead of knock, knocking all the time.


                         Okay, so I felt like being corny today!!! Want to come help pick em?

Slowing down the pace.

Happy New Year!! I am so happy the holidays are now behind us!! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays and all the fun and joy that comes with it but, I am so ready to get some organizing done, de-clutter this house, and get back to a routine. I love it when my husband has an extended vacation but, I love it more when he goes back to work! I hope that didn't sound too mean... I have really slacked off and enjoyed a few too many pan de polvo cookies, tamales, and mall food! Who hasn't?..So, I need to also get back to eating "normal" and exercising in the evenings.

We started off the New Year by slowing down the pace relaxing and enjoying the outdoors! The peace that that comes from the little simple pleasure of waiting and watching the birds fly by and landing on a feeding station is un-real!

Did you know that the Rio Grande Valley is one of the most popular birding and butterfly watching hot spots in the world?

it sure is

and I just happen to live here.

New Year Resolution...

As the night falls and the count down begins, I start thinking about the wonder of the coming year and all the possibilities, what ifs and mights. I know one thing's for sure, I don't want to make a mistake and promise something that I know, I won't keep like loosing a gazillion pounds or like eating no carbs!! Instead, I want to be a better version of myself in 2013. That's it simple enough! I want to wake up being thankful for all my blessings each and every day! And If I happen to lose weight in the process.....
hallelujah!!

My kitchen survived

All the cooking, baking, counter-top pounding, kids playing, stove top spills, refrigerator space, counter-top space,oven space, left-overs, more left-overs, sticky floors, wine spills, space for cookies, Christmas paper here and there, mexican chalupa beans on floor, dish washing, pot & pans washing, back door left opened, flies coming in, messy table, un-claimed soda's on counter, un-claimed plates outside, half eaten cookies, half bottled waters on counter, purses, cameras, presents, on counter, full trash bags, over filled out-door trash bin, ..... etc.....

I would not have changed it for the world!.... But, I am happy it's back to normal!!

Valley Lemon surprise.

After Christmas shopping last night, I get home and my husband shows me this! I got so excited. You see, this is a Valley lemon ~ not just any lemon, it's a "Valley lemon" they are so good! They are a cross between a lemon and an orange perfect for tea! They are my favorite!! I remember peeling, eating, and saving the seeds as I was coming in, I stuck the seeds in this pot. Now look! I can't wait for it to become a tree! I will definitely do a follow up post!

Awaiting Cold Front.

As I sit here and write this post from my bedroom, I have my both windows open fresh air is blowing in, it is in the low 80's here in South Texas! We are anxiously waiting on a "Cold front" that will bring temperatures way down to the 60s. Our air-conditioner broke over the week-end and we are relieved that it happened in December and not in August..

As I look out, I see the sun shinning.

The butterflies playing..

Plants putting on a show for all to see.

Sometimes thinking spring is here.

My perky lobelia plant loves to steal the spotlight.

While my porterweed bloom patiently waits for another hummingbird.

Christmas Tree Project.

Here is a fun and easy project!

All you need is...  I call it lattice wood. We got ours pre-cut at Lowe's and some wood glue..

Green spray paint..

Lights and a star.

I am adding more lights in-between, I was just so excited I had to share..