Spring Planting

As he typically does around Mother's Day, this week Rich shopped for, planted, and mulched the beds in front of our house. We keep it simple...here are a few photos.

For years we have selected the Blue Wave Petunias but this year changed it up and planted these lovely Burgundy Star Wave Petunias. Rich loves Marigolds so always plants a variety of them behind the petunias.

We have a large container in the front bed and select something different every year to plant in it. Our selections are rarely successful (because we're not attentive gardeners, you think?). This year he planted these Orange and Yellow Gazenias in there...I love them! The yellow ones remind me of sunflowers; at night they close tightly and all the petals point straight up!

We love both the flavor and the aroma of basil, crush a leaf between your fingers and inhale...OH MY! He planted these in a container this year so they are more accessible than when planted in the back bed. Actually, we didn't plant anything in the back this year; we're just not here long enough to plant much.

Spreading mulch over all the beds.

This task is well supervised by The Girls!

Marianne was here on Wednesday and while we were visiting after dinner she glanced outside and saw this...I would have missed it otherwise! I LOVE rainbows!!!

Lovin' Life ~~ Daily

Mother's Day ~ Four Generation Photos

Once upon a time, in 1949, I was the baby of four living generations on Mom's side of the family...oh so lucky me to have known all of these wonderful women (and my Grandpa Price too...what a character!).

l to r: Velma Price Pogue, Bill Price, Bev Pogue, Mary Ann Bivin Price

l to r: Bernice Wallace Price, Velma Price Pogue, Bev Pogue, Martha Weaver Wallace

Twenty Three years later, my daughter Sandee was the baby in this four generation photo.

l to r: Bernice Wallace Price, Bev Pogue Watt [now Ulaszek] holding Sandee Watt, Velma Price Pogue

In June 2011 the latest of our four generation photos included my precious grandkids.

Velma Price Pogue seated in front of: 

Greg Watt, Dylan Crane, Sandee Watt Crane, Jackson Crane, Bev Ulaszek, Shelby Crane

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women in my life today...you know who you are!

Lovin' Life ~~ Thankful For These Special Memories

This Week in Flowers

This week, of course, was all about Mom. She loved bright flowers like these from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all the blossoms of spring. Everything this past week has been just as she would have wanted...her brand of perfect.

Spring brings the fleeting beauty of a variety of flowering trees.

Jonquils and daffodils were among Mom's spring favorites but they pass so quickly and this was the only shot I got, even though they were plentiful until the recent rainy days.

When Rich and I arrived back home Wednesday evening we were greeted by this lovely arrangement of tulips from our next-door BFFs. I LOVE tulips!

How lovely is this bowing bloom with its multi-colored leaf...breathtaking?

Come closer...just look at the magnificence inside this bloom.

This afternoon when he returned from working on the motorhome, Rich brought me these...oh my goodness!

Lovin' Life ~~ This Week Too

1927 - 2013

We'll never know why Rich went outside when he did today, it was 12:45 p.m., but he just happened to notice this above the homes across the street from us and had me come outside to see it. I have never seen anything like it before so I'm sure it was my mom, letting me know all is well in Heaven.

Velma Ruth Pogue

January 23, 1927 - May 2, 2013

Lovin' Life ~~ Love You, Mom

"After Three Days" and the Texas Fun

We were up early on this cold and windy Monday morning to drive to Tulsa, OK. By the way...have you recognized the lyrics I've been using in the blog titles these three days? Name that tune.

Did I mention that it was windy? That was one long 370 miles from Amarillo, TX to Tulsa. Some days when the conditions are bad, I don't know how Rich can stay focused mile after mile, although he does enjoy working on crossword puzzles together while he drives. There wasn't much to shoot but here is a small sample of our drive.

Driving through Shamrock, TX will always remind of the morning of January 17, 1994 and watching the horror of the Northridge Earthquake on TV while Rich in Chicago and I in Shamrock tried frantically to reach our kids who were at home in California to see if they were okay.

But we quickly passed out of Texas from there and into the red dirt and bright green patchwork of Oklahoma!

This is a canola field in bloom...breathtakingly bright and golden.

Just look at this flag...huge, beautiful, and proud with the wind fully extending it!

Like planned, we dry-camped at the Hard Rock Casino there. After we settled in, Rich and I walked over to the casino for dinner. They do have a pretty good buffet there but if you haven't been to a casino for a while, don't think there's anything free unless you are a gambler. The buffet is $20 each! Between the two of us we left another $70 in various slot machines as we were walking out. We are not really very into gambling so that was a lot for us to squander.

And that brings us to today. Even though it rained all the live long day, driving conditions for the 315 miles from Tulsa to Cuba, MO were much better than yesterday's. Rain does not make for a good photography day though.

Our drive began under gray skies in the Oklahoma rain.

And continued throughout the day under gray skies and occasional heavy fog with nearly constant rain all through Missouri.

Missouri is such a beautiful state with its highways carved through various types of rock, red clay soil, and lots of vegetation. 

Right now the Redbud trees are in full bloom!

Tonight we are in Cuba, MO...where it is still raining...and tomorrow we will be in Illinois!

I am so relieved that my mom has remained stable while Rich and I tied up loose ends in AZ and made this long trip back to see her. I am so grateful that my brother & SIL are with her every day and that my sister and her son were able to spend a week with her while she was in the hospital and to help her transition back to the nursing home. She's a lucky Mom to have all that love and support.

Lovin' Life ~~ Closing Out This Journey

"After Two Days, In the Desert Sun"

We took the day off to enjoy a couple of places in Amarillo on Sunday. We got in so late the night before that the office was closed. These guys were there to greet me though when we stopped to check in at the night register. This is the coolest art we've seen at any KOA, and we've stayed at a lot of them!

Speaking of art...even though we passed on through Roswell, NM without stopping at one of our favorite art museums, our visit to the Amarillo Museum of Art certainly made up for it!

There was a temporary exhibit of art "Featuring New Work by the Panhandle's Young and Emerging Artists" including those from West Texas A&M that included some fabulous pieces...some were simply fun; some were breathtakingly beautiful. Here are a few of our favorites with the name of the piece captioned.

Revealing the Beauty Within

Choking Hazard

Pyrographic!

Current C

Androgyny

Generational Gap

The Warmth of Wisdom

In addition to the incredible variety of talent in the temporary exhibit, the Price Gallery of Asian Art contains priceless pieces such as this...

I sat in front of Buddha for some time wondering about its creation and life and how I came to be in his presence at this particular time. Humbling.

Also in the museum's permanent collection is this enormous painting that draws you in to the museum reception depicted, as though you too were an attendee.

Museum

There were also two or three paintings by the artist who created this...

Crazy Mountain Horses #2

Finding small museums with such treasures is pure bliss.

Now for the contrast that is so often a part of our days. For dinner we went to the

World Famous Big Texan Steak Ranch 

If you can eat a 72 ounce steak, baked potato, salad, and shrimp cocktail within an hour, your meal is free. Many have tried; a few have even succeeded!

You know how you place your tongue firmly in your cheek and think, "WTH, let's give it a try"? Well let me tell you, the food here is great! It is served in this dining room...

I would love to find me some cowhide patterned oil cloth for my table! The chili was delicious and loaded with beef...although the appearance of the cornbread was far superior to the taste...giggle!

Both of our steaks were of the best quality and perfectly prepared...

Rich just ate the last of his 24 ounce steak for dinner tonight and commented again that we will definitely eat there the next time we're in Amarillo.

Lovin' Life ~~ Continuing This Journey