Poor Winnie Hall

Our largest red-eared slider turtle, Winnie Hall, escaped while we were gone today. She somehow managed to move the screen wire off the pond and get away.

Our neighbors found her, and they brought her back, but they did not put her in a secured area and she was gone when we came home about ten minutes later. We searched and searched but could not find her on our property or any of the surrounding properties

I am worried about her. I hope she finds her way back to us. If not, I hope she finds a safe place to live out the rest of her life.

We ARE a Critter Friendly Property, HOWEVER ...

We are a critter friendly property. We are a registered as a wildlife habitat in Austin (at least we were, I assume we are still on the list).

We do not discourage any critters unless they get in the house.

In the summ.er we are often in the pool until very late at night and see coyotes, skunks, possums, etc. walk by outside the fence and we love it, well we worry about the skunks spraying us, but we still enjoy the fact we have so much wildlife.

However, we are only critter friendly when the critters are outside. Tonight while my youngest was working on his computer, which is located in our foyer, he heard a tapping on the front door. When he turned on the outside light to see who might be there he saw a large possum.

I absolutely have to put my foot down on the critters knocking on the door like I am going to let them in for a friendly visit. I give them free reign of all of the acreage. I give them plenty of cover to protect themselves from predators. I make sure they have stuff to eat in the winter, and water all of the time. That is as far as it goes.

At least the youngest had enough sense not to open the door to try to get a better look at the creature or there is no telling what I would have found when I came home from dinner with my friends.

Trouble Breathing

At any given time I have a magic number in my head that represents security and stability for my boys and me.

With these economic times, I am now below my magic number.

I am having trouble breathing. It is panic attack.

I have no right to be having a panic attack. I am better off than most because I am careful and mindful of everything I spend. Even below my magic number, I will be okay for quite a while as long as I remain frugal.

The problem is the magic number. It is in my head. It is an obsession. It is not a number I can lower, because if I start doing that I might get reckless.

I will just have to find a way to breathe until the economy starts to recover and my number appears again.

I will also continue to pray for those less fortunate than I am, especially during these hard times.

Feel Creative ? Only Have a Minute-Try This

I ran across this blog tonight and thought it was a great idea. Thought I would share.

http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

Turtle Pond Dug

The boys, a hired child, and I worked on putting in the new turtle pond today. (I hired a friend of the youngest to help. He is a great worker!) We actually were able to get the hole dug, the pond in, and the rock around it. I say "we," but the boys did 99% of the work. I used a shovel, hoe, and pick ax a few times, but mostly I ordered them around.

The boys also helped me clean out the breezeway with the exception of the leaves. We will get those tomorrow.

The boys and I moved my picnic table out to the area behind the new pond and under my favorite tree, and I was very excited about that too.

We took lots of breaks, and even went into town for supplies and for lunch. We met the friend's dad and brother at Wendy's and had a great time.

It really was a great day, even though my back is killing me.

I let the boys climb in my favorite tree, I have never allowed that before, in fact, my boys have not had a lot of opportunities to climb trees in their life. The youngest was so excited. Here are the pictures from that adventure. NOTE: Since the oldest has his own website with pictures, I don't mind his face being on my blog, but the youngest is still under cover.

Youngest


Oldest


Three in a Tree and
None of Them Me


New Turtle Pond in Progress

Happy Dance!!!!

Enough said.

I Love Fall!

Fall has always been my favorite season. Texas falls are not as pretty as the ones I was used to growing up in Ohio. I miss the many colors we had in the fall there, especially the maple trees.

In Kentucky the colors were often iffy where I lived, but there was one mountainside between my home and college that was always glorious. To this day I can remember how my breath would catch as it would come into view. How I would love to see that again, but I am afraid if I went back the mountainside would be covered with houses now. Better to remember it as it was.

I do have some color in my back yard. These trees soothe my soul.

Chinese Tallow Tree


Sweet Gum