Play Day in San Antonio

Today we took the day for a trip to San Antonio. For awhile now, Skye has been wanting to go to Ripley's Believe it or Not and The Wax Museum.

We've been to both before so I guess she enjoyed it enough the first time to want to go back.

Our day was as close to perfect as you could get.

Ripley's....

Some favorites from the Wax Museum....

After the museums, we took a little walk and had some lunch on the Riverwalk....

Bonnie and Clyde, the only two white ducks on the Riverwalk

 

The Incredible Edible....Flower?

A few weeks ago a neighbor brought me some prepared Prickly Pear Flower to taste. Hmmm...even though I find the Prickly Pear Plant interesting, I have to admit that eating any part the pointed thing never crossed my mind.  I've seen the "pad" part of the plant in the produce section of local stores but never felt compelled to give it a try.

Even though I politely turned down my neighbors offer - I prefer to do research on my own before I try strange foods from the wild - it intrigued me enough to do a little research.

The "fruit" of the Prickly Pear has an interesting history and also can be eaten as fruit.  On my next walk at the park where the plants are abundant I carried my gloves and a pack to carry my pickings in. Even though you can't see or feel them initially, the hairs on the fruit itself are like shards of glass. Once they get into your skin they are super hard to get out and are very painful to the touch....yes, I know this from experience.

Scald the hairs off before preparation....

The color is a beautiful magenta. At one time in history the "red" secretion was cultivated by the Aztecs and exported to Spain where it was highly valued by the Spanish, next to gold and silver to dye royal garments and military uniforms.....

I have to admit the fruit is tasty but a lot of work and care for such a painful small yield.

In my spare time I've been working on a few crochet projects. For my niece who started her college journey many miles from home I decided on this colorful pattern for a cozy, comfy blanket.

It was a fun project and it turned out quite nicely. I hope she will enjoy it.....

I also whipped up a few small projects. This one I sent back to one of my neighbors on the plate that she always so generously sends us yummy treats on....

Hot pad, pot holder, and coasters

I enjoy doing quick small projects that keep my hands busy when I'm sitting around with the family....

Coaster, key chain, bookmarks, car cup holder pads

Coasters and hot pads

With the arrival of fall I've been itching to get out and do some hiking. I've also got some exciting stuff coming up....a ghost tour trip downtown with a friend and a trip to Dallas to the Texas State Fair...and anything else I can come up with.

Barring no major emergencies, I plan on making the most of the next couple of months.

Summer End

As the end of summer nears, I find myself trying to hang on to the season. Usually, I'm ready for a little cooler weather by the end of a hot, Texas summer, but this year has been different. This year, the unusually cooler weather has made the summer season feel like it's ending before it got off to a good start.

In an effort to try to soak up every bit of summer before it disappears into fall, we headed to Barton Springs for the afternoon.

To my satisfaction, the crowds were sparse and the water clear and emerald.....

At the light at Congress and Barton Springs Road, I rolled down my window and got a good shot of the bat structure...

After we got home, Toby and I spent some time hanging out in the pool with our special Tequila concoction we invented during our South Padre vacation. Yum.

Oh! Last night we caught a glimpse of the "Supermoon". It looked more like a Halloween moon they way it was peeking out from the clouds....

Skye got a little more creative with her picture....

Awesome August

Seems like the month of August flew by....seems like my LIFE is flying by.

I just wanted to take a few memories from August and post them here for my memories sake.

Skye went through few day phase of climbing onto the roof and watching the world from above. Like me, she is enamored by the idea of being able to "view" the horizon or a city line.

I enjoy seeing the big Texas sky. In Alabama, unless you were on the beach you were surrounded by trees. Don't get me wrong, I love trees, but where I'm from trees come with a generous helping of tree roaches which I AM NOT very fond of.

Backyard sunsets...one of my favorite things about my little, humble piece of property....

Skye practicing her art.....

Bo enjoying a dip in his pool...

Enjoying an afternoon cold beverage on a hot day....

Playing chicken with neighbors....

LOVE her little ringlets....

Bo cooling off in the shade after a run in the park....

Toby practicing his art....

Bo being Bo....

More awesome sunsets...

The "kids"....

More sunsets...

A pretty butterfly....

As simple and mundane as it is, I love my little insignificant life.