Sunrise, picking, peeling, & pitting, PEACHES!

He knows the beginning from the end......(and all in between)

the things of the Lord make sense in the light of eternal sort of circular thinking.

This was my morning....the sunrise was golden

(this photo has no enhancement, it was the natural light of our Lemons Gap morning.)

It was early enough that I surprised even the doe that sneaks in early before her twins join her.
Then it was country sunshine once again with one of our favorite things.... peaches!

This particular tree has such a strange history.

It was bought 3 years ago with it's neighbor as nectarine trees.....the one true to it's genetics produces maybe 3 fruits total, and they are a scrawny tasteless lot I can tell you....

but THIS SURPRISE... oh my mercy pearl!!! such peaches.

It bows it's limbs with the weight of the treasured fruits. Not just peaches...

they are WHITE freestone peaches.

This year, it seemed the best were the ones highest on the tree.\

Maybe it is this way every year,

but this is the first year we got to see them before the birds had their feast!

We were leaving shortly and had been watching for the ripest ones... hoping they'd be ready before vacation. Today... KG and I picked a bushel! and then set about peeling, pitting, and freezing the sweet jewels.

She told me...

"Tahtee, I think God put the best ones highest so they'd be

closer to Him and He could smell how sweet they are." Good reason huh? We've decided that each one of the gallon bags we froze will make a big ole cobbler...

perfect for cold winter days by the fireplace.

(nice to think about right now as today was 108 and sweltering!)

Cook a roast or a pot of chicken and dumplings and hummmummm good...

what a comfort meal?! I'm with you KG... they sure smell good,

no wonder the sweetest ones are the hardest to get to!

(hummmm I'm thinking that this may be the case with more than peaches:) Do you see the common thread to my beginning and end.......???

it's okay if you don't ...

I just thought it so like my Jesus to begin and end on a harmonious note from the melody of life.

Threshold, the Howells, and Peaches

We began the weekend with 2008 Threshold... KG 2nd year... and this year was interesting for Em, Nana, KG and myself..... interesting as the choice of subject matter was curious to all of us!

But this sign on the wall as we walked in was true and this grandmother is glad that KG mom is the one who chooses the "journey" and plans the "adventures"! God places our children into our arms FIRST for a reason.... I love it that the mommies I know understand this awesome role!

Lots of proud parents peruse the participants princely palaces (just couldn't resist that!).
Saturday was hot.... but this morning.... "church" was held around my kitchen table.... it was a cool breeze in the midst of the stifling heat! Eternity..... what does the word do for/to you?
Then the Howells paid us a visit on their way back to Lubbock.... its been too long precious friends! It was so good to have you here a while.


Like those new bangs Bethany... always the stylish one!
EE and the newest little A.Crossland are such sweet friends sitting on top of the hot tub.... won't be long before they just have to get into the pool with everybody else!
like NOW.... with Poppy~
Scenes like this make us glad we decided to change our mind about NEVER having another pool!
There is plenty to chuckle about with the antics in the pool!

... then plenty to contemplate as we catch up on lost time and new seasons.
Time to come in for homemade pizza, cantaloupe, sweet tea and good conversation... Curt's creation was a "perfect presentation". (Dylan would have been proud!) We don't even have to mention he brought his own homemade brew as well... ONLY YOU CURT!!!
Until next time... Justin and Curt already have the next trip set up... off the adventurers go until next time.
We love you precious ones .... we love the times we are allowed to reconnect.....it seems as if we just pick up where we last left off.... it just takes so much time because there is just so much to say! Curt.... did you have the last word???? Glad you all took peaches home with you! Remember the kids had several before you left..... STOP THE CAR when they ask! :)

Bballers and the Connells... some are silver and the others gold!

The Bball crew and Dylan's surprise B'day... fun parties!!!

Troy's Bball guys... I finally get to meet SOME of them and their families!

For probably the last 30 years Troy has played bball at the FLC of FBC... tonight was the first time we'd had some of them come to our home. We wives (and girlfriends) had heard the names of the guys, but had never had faces to put with the names. Tonight we got a chance.
So many of the guys had other commitments.. it is summer, and these are busy men.
KG loved the fact that some of these daughters will be going with their dads, or in her case, grandads up EARLY to play or keep score. I think she will really look forward to the next opportunity... so will Lexi, Island, and Greg's daughter (sorry... forgot the name!)
It must have been an okay time... since it started at 5:30 and was after 11:00 when Troy and I finally closed the doors, picked up some stuff and reflected on the good time! Thank you for letting us see some of the faces and get to another level. We will look forward to more of these times with these special folks.
The next group we got to share with was VERY familiar... yep, the Connells were in town for the week! We got to see them FIRST before they set up shop with the wonderful things they'd made for the show .
Dylan's new haircut left nothing to guess about... nice to have a good head!
Table talk has always been a priority.... except those of us who were following little ones into the other places of the house.

Then yesterday..... SURPRISE.... Happy birthday Dylan!!! You are loved!
EE is always touching faces... and with that.... hearts!
These Connells will make great parents to a little girl.... so clear how much Becky loves her guys!

PT camped out in the corner to dissuade any picking up the non-childproofed section of the hearth.... well, is anything TSC proof???? we're working on that at our house!
Brothers, sisters, friends, and parents... Janice opened her house and arms to all of us! But... shucks, I didn't get to peek into the Mancave of the man of the hour.. Next time Dylan! Next time! (also.. I think I need a bit more face to face/heart to heart... okie dokie my friends.. well, that really goes to each of you ya know?!)
Dylan... do you REALLY KNOW how much you are cherished? by all of us here, as well as many unable to be here.
I wanna know what Doug's expression is all about here..... so nice to see old friends connect... the bonds are NEVER broken when they are tied by the Hands of the ONE WHO made us!
Fun weekend of Fun parties, with God given friends and new friends... Thank YOU JESUS!

Reflections from Friend's Eyes... PRICELESS!

***note... this is simply a visual record... so much more than words could say***

WE weren't sure this weekend was gonna work out......but.....it did, and we're glad! Old friends got together for some much needed REFLECTION and fun!

We realized that all four of the Mommies had been lifeguards at one time or another as we talked about the good, the bad and the ugly of life guarding days!
Those skills certainly were put to use once again with 9 kids at/in or around the pool!

Then KG invited everyone to the pens to meet her buddy BB.... of course with the watchful supervision of JTC! except our little 7 year old cowgirl who demonstrated to all concerned that she was quite capable of handling the horse named Brave Boy.
Each one got a turn.... some were the first time on these gentle creatures, but there was trust here..... Trust that comes only with history. We talked about that didn't we?
BB stands ready for the next novice to ride! Thanks Jeff...(http://dalowes.blogspot.com/you've gotta read Kris' take on the "horsey story") we surely do trust these little ones with your hands on the reins! Remember the snowy day you brought Em and Lara home safely? I think part of that trust was born that night!
Lara's newest little one, Lily, is surrounded by adoring mommy fans!
Notice in this picture all the cameras! Needless to say... these few pics of mine are merely a drop in the bucket. (I find the dynamics of this picture so intriguing. Notice the placement of the moms, the five boys central and facing all sorts of directions, and the oldest and youngest 4 girls in various places or "positions"... just an interesting side note from my view)
These two of Em's and Kris are bound to be buddies for life... 3 months apart and both oh so smart from that youngest sibling position in the family. YES... dirt is the best part of the pens!

On the the HomePlace for dinner with the rest of the Doran crew.... yes, there are even cameras there from adoring Hoot! I've never seen a child that doesn't like Nanna! She is a great grandmother who regularly keeps/plays with 5 great grandchildren she keeps. Wow she's something!
Moddie and TaTa discuss the things that PUBLISHED authors talk about.... and more... they are two wonderful grandmothers! Maybe I'm in the company of FAME???? ya think?
While the moms talk, the kids go outside and find lots of new friends. Ben... you are GREAT with kids. I'm thinking God has big plans for your life.... yes, get a wife first!
The hackberries offer great shade outside the HomePlace.... and a great place to play with others who visit...."homeplace" is an appropriate name don't you think?
The meal ends after 2 hours of visiting and playing ... oh yes, and eating did fit in there somewhere.... Mer has the rock she traded for "eating a good dinner" to prove it! Next time we'll try to be sure Cam doesn't eat the stick to the sucker!

The night was finished with coffee, friends, questions, laughter, and God talk.... oh yes, Kristi caught the little eavesdropper about 10 minutes after the rest of us left for home around midnight. We let him find other accommodations soon afterwards as he is not a welcome guest at the cottages ;O
Thank You Father for friends who let us see ourselves through the reflection of their eyes!

"You have been called"

Tony Snow asks some questions that are worth considering this side of "Paradise" (interesting word... not exactly what I'd always considered it to be according to it's original scriptural text meaning!!!)...May we each one consider "life" and what we truly BELIEVE...
and in that definition ask ourselves...
"is what I am doing betraying what I believe?"
After reading the complete writing of T. Snow, I thought it appropriate to put these final questions of his in this place.....
as I fwd. many of you the entire writing,
I offer only this final part here.... (hoping that this truly is from the heart of TS... but worthy none the less..better check on the SNOPES report huh?http://www.snopes.com/glurge/tonysnow.asp)
I thank Mr. Snow for his candidness in leaving this word legacy for me...
Ya'll be blessed as you consider and then revel in this life we've been given for today...

..."Through such trials, God bids us to choose:
Do we believe, or do we not?
Will we be bold enough to love,daring enough to serve,
humble enough to submit,
and strong enough
to acknowledge our limitations?
Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter
so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?
When our faith flags, He throws reminders in our way.
Think of the prayer warriors in our midst.
They change things,
and those of us who have been on the receiving end
of their petitions and intercessions
know it.
It is hard to describe, but there are times
when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up,
and you feel a surge of the Spirit.
Somehow you just know:
Others have chosen,
when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up,
- to speak of us!
This is love of a very special order.
But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing.
The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid,
every happiness more luminous and intense.
We may not know how our contest with sickness will end,
but we have felt the ineluctable touch of God.
What is man that Thou are mindful of him?
We don't know much, but we know this:
No matter where we are,
no matter what we do,
no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects,
each and every one of us who believe each and every day,
lies in the same safe and impregnable place,
in the hollow of God's hand."
'T. Snow

Longhorn morning...Aledo, Madame, Aquila, Cindy & babies

Just had to post this here as well as my "pets" blog... These guys are so interesting in our world of various animals. Enjoy a glimpse of my longhorns.

I remember when I told Troy that I was looking at some really high dollar registered longhorns from a ranch in OK. Then, as is typical around here, it just happened that there were OTHER ideas that rendered my heart to a little orphan that eventually became our little black and white Aledo! Yall have a good day my friends, and enjoy a touch my morning :-)

sunrise after July rainstorm

Okay... so now I know that my camera can take a video as well as a still shot!

(only a snipit, but still a video... old dogs, new tricks ;)

I really thought I was taking a still... better put on my glasses huh, but it is too beautiful not to have it recorded here for posterity.

Independence Day 2008

Today is the day after the 4th! It began with fireworks in my garden. Herb says that these 4oclocks are crosspollinated from my grandmother's traditional pinks. Gorgeous!

(and dictated by KG)... the animals in the YES room are taken care of in a BIG BOX!
Relaxing in the YES Room after removing the bunkbeds for TR's house... it looks great.
EE ... even our little one's understand, the free of America.
dads understand the strinkth of a little boy!
when two or more gather any thing is possoble!
God says YES
I love being an American!
WE love our hero guys!
Happy Birthday America.... S... for Super nation!

God bless us everyone! (written by Tahtee and KG)....with love!