The Panhandle

I took a trip to Texas yesterday to enjoy a visit with my Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother and Sister-in-law. They all seem to be doing well. Mom's heart has settled down and quit jumping erratically; Dad's stomach is being able to keep food down--at least one big meal a day. (Yesterday it was chicken-fried steak, asparagus, mashed potatoes, gravy, cottage cheese, pickled beets, salad, and strawberries. Mom was a little worried because we didn't have enough vegetables and wanted to open some corn or green beans, but I assured here we had enough.) My brother and sister-in-law looked content, and my sister showed us the house she is buying. It's a beautiful, wall-papered cottage-type place which exudes personality. (Does that sound like agent-speak?)

When I left home there was cloud cover and heavy fog, but a light sun broke through before I arrived, and the day was bright and hot. In the evening, a storm came rolling across the sky from the West, so I had to leave a few minutes sooner than I planned to miss the lightning and rain.

Sun, sage, storm...all very beautiful!

Spring Break

Well, I haven't been blogging much, but that doesn't mean I've been sick in bed with influenza type A, or on vacation in the Bahamas, or even gadding about shopping malls with a glazed look to my eyes and lines on my arms from the heavy, plastic sacks.


I've been on spring break...and around here that means "Let's get stuff done!" Income tax took a day or two, but there was a little physical labor as well: I pulled nails and moved furniture and hauled off trash and helped my daughter unload more pots from her paint studio.

I had a breakfast one morning with my daughter and grandchildren at the coffee shop, got my hair cut, got my eyes checked-- and it seems they are no worse for their ten-year hiatus from inspection--washed about a dozen loads of clothes, typed two hundred questions for the next academic tournament, played geo-challenge on facebook, slept with the window open and breathed the wonderful air of spring.


On Saturday, I drove for a couple of hours into Texas and saw my mom, dad, brother, sister, and sister-in-law. We visited for a few hours and shared the cares and joys of our lives. I loved it. Even the trip was enjoyable and serene. I took a lot of pictures...lonely roads and miles and miles of beautiful, wind-full, scenery. It was such a peaceful interlude in my much too busy life.