Ready Or Not!

If you know Southeast Texas you know that when it comes to hurricanes it's not a matter of if but when the hurricane will strike.  We survived Hurricane Ike in 2008 (the link takes you to my posts from 2008--just scroll through to Sept. 2008 until you see some posts about the hurricane).  We only had to endure two weeks without power.  Yes, it was somewhat uncomfortable, but definitely doable.   We learned a few things that year showing us that we weren't as prepared as we thought. 

So, for the first time ever, our family attended the annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshop here in Houston, TX.  Why did it take us so long to get there?  I can give two reasons:  (1) Our schedules never allowed us to attend before and (2) Our teenage boys took advantage of the Boy Scout Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge workshop (something that would have never been on our radar in previous years). 

One of five t-shirts that we "caught" throughout the day

My husband was quite fascinated with barometric pressure and why it's so significant in hurricane development.  While listening to some of the presentations, my oldest was interested in the actual position of Director of the National Hurricane Center, who spoke to us today.  There was a time when his dream job was to be the director of the NHC.  When he was younger weather (hurricanes in particular) were quite fascinating to him.  

Our middle child was thrilled to get "stabbed" in the neck with a piece of glass as he allowed them to create mock emergency situations.  We quickly learned that even the sight of "fake" blood makes him nauseaus.

Can you see the "wound" on his neck?

I learned all about the Wonder Oven and even purchased one of my own.  I'm sure it'll be one of those things I learn how to cook with as I work on a particular provident living plan coming up in Unit #4 of my class ;-).

We also learned how to make an A/C unit with a bag of ice, an old cooler, a fan, PVC pipe, and a battery.  It really was quite chilly to stand next to it.  

You can't see them, but our boys are participating in the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Workshop

Taking a break at the Emergency Response Team Ambulance

While we didn't win any of the 30 giveaway prizes (we never win anything), we walked away with a trunk full of reusable bags that were loaded with information, first aid kits, rain gauges, snacks, ponchos, flashlights, T-shirts . . . and the list goes on!  

We felt uplifted and reenergized to get better prepared for emergencies.  This was definitely a family activity that "involved the mind" and helped us "develop skill" together. 

We finished the night by eating dinner and just hanging out with my twin brother and his family.  We enjoyed outdoor recreation, playing video games, and just catching up.  It made for a long, productive, and fun Saturday for us.

Our youngest with her two cousins

WRA, REL200, Post 5

Inks Lake and Enchanted Rock

Keeping with our annual tradition of camping over Spring Break, this year we headed to the "other side" of Austin to Inks Lake and Enchanted Rock State Parks.  And, this time the whole Texas clan came along.

Trying out our new hammocks.

Going fishing...don't confuse that with catching fish.

 Beginning our ascent to the top of Enchanted Rock.

Still going ...

Robyn loved every bit of it!

Still going up to the summit.

At the top!  

Just love this picture of my mother and us three sisters.  We were trying to get a group picture and the wind wasn't cooperating!

On the other side is a cluster of caves (who knows how many there really are...we didn't explore all the crevices). 

I hiked down into one of them and couldn't get out becaue of the people blocking the entrance.   So, I waited...this is me looking up out of one of the crevices.  Jaren tried to convince me to climb up but we decided that I was too short to reach the hand or foot holds.

 Splashing in Spring Creek back at Inks Lake

All the cousins with Grandma!

 To anybody wondering of young children can hike Enchanted Rock.  Yes, they can.  Though, some may come down looking like this:

 Yes, she slept pretty much during the whole descent.

More Caterflies & Butterpillars

Yes, sometimes we get tongue tied around here and forget when we're talking about caterpillars or butterflies. Just easier to put the two together I guess (hey, it works for my 3-yr. old). It comes from an old story from when I was little--okay, younger. I was caught switching my syllables around one time when talking about them...through the entire story. And, it just kind of stuck. So, in our home caterflies and butterpillars are appropriate terms to use. (It's the same reason why we refer to "hiccups" as "hick 'em ups").

Onto the rest of my post...

Since getting home from camping we've been watching a particular caterpillar. At least we think it's the same one...we've watched several Swallowtails eat and grow on the parsley. Which in itself is exciting since it's the first time we've had Swallowtails!!

This was him on Saturday....your typical caterpillar chomping away on the leaves.

Then, this morning...I noticed our mature caterpillar in the first stages of forming the crysalis. A single thread is holding the upper body while the tail is already affixed to the supporting parsley stem.

Tried to get a good enough picture to see the string but to no avail....just imagine it, okay?!

Of course, we had errands to run so we MISSED the actual crysalis forming. But, when we got back..voila!

Robyn was absolutely excited to see this...our first time to watch a complete cycle for one caterpillar (instead of just finding one by luck).

On a side note we've got LOTS of Monarch caterpillars around too! I love Spring!

Just had to throw in a picture of my garden complete with my heavy duty trellis that I constructed myself (thanks to my sister). Pretty sure it was quite comical for onlookers watching me walk through Lowe's with 2 pieces of 10ft. conduit and a wandering 3 yr. old...

I'm quite proud of my construction job. Hoping that this trellis will withstand the weight of fruit this year.

Until I actually get around to posting about life here in Southeast Texas...here's us just finishing up our Spring Break trip (after three days of camping)!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Taken at the Sam Houston Statue grounds just off the I-45 in Huntsville, TX

A Butterfly is Born (FINALLY)

Disclaimer: We like butterflies so I WILL post about them. It's been oh so much fun to learn about them and how to attract them...

After planting some butterfly host/nectar plants last year we've watched as Monarch, Frittilary and Swallowtail Butterflies have visited our yard. So, they were definitely attracted. Got that part down! And, we've seen the caterpillars come and go. But, we had yet to see a caterpillar successfully transform into a butterfly. We were losing the caterpillars too fast to outside elements or the chrysalis just wouldn't develop. When "winter" came (can we even call it that down here?) I just assumed it would be too cold for anything. I should've known better as our mild, wet winter has been perfect!

On New Year's Eve we had some friends over as we sat around my new fire pit making desserts. Robyn loves to pick from my rather large parsley plant and eat it right there. So, the other kiddos joined in. And then they started sharing the parsley with our guests--literally feeding it to one gentleman. He went to eat another sprig when he noticed one of these on it:

I was quite surprised to even see one! I quickly put it back in the parsley bush realizing immediately what it was. To think it almost got eaten by a human!

Robyn and I have watched everyday to see if a butterfly would actually emerge. Our hopes were low because we've had many that have just not survived. In fact our survival rate was 0% (and this was our first Monarch chrysalis). I have to say I totally missed this caterpillar--never saw it! It had a great place deep down inside my bushy parsley (silly me never thought to check my parsley).

We actually forgot to check on it these passed several days. But, we went out this morning and Hoorah! Finally, a butterfly was born!

In fact, we discovered TWO brand new butterflies! Can you spot them?

There was another one that we completely missed!!

Robyn was quick to find its old "house" (as she put it).

Yep, we like butterflies.

Treeless

I know. I know. I haven't posted in months and this is what I choose to write about?! Truth be told, since switching to a new computer (PC to Apple) I just haven't taken the time to figure everything out (especially posting photos) even though it's been a good 8 months since the change happened. I have no excuse only that posting here is not high on my to-do list. Now onto the original post...

For a long while people have come to our front door commenting on our dying tree and ready to cut it down for us. Yes, I know it's diseased. Yes, I know it's dying. Yes, I know it's ugly. Yes, I know it's a safety hazard. Then they quote me a price that just floors me and I say, "No thanks. I'll keep my diseased, dying, ugly, hazard-prone tree." I mean, every time the wind blows, another branch falls--so, nature was slowly doing it for me. We've watched as it slowly loses its branches. 2008 was it's worst year: August, September. And 2011 was tough too. I think I've blogged about this tree since I started blogging. When the last branch that fell almost caused some major damage to someone else's property, I knew it had to go...for the right price.

So, here's what my front yard looks like now...

....anyone need some wood? Not ready to take on this project of re-landscaping it.

Geesh, I'm still peeling wallpaper inside the house.

Favorite Places, Part 2

From the cold, windy Oregon coast to the dry deserts of Utah...

I know I visited here as a child--6th grade as I recall. Right now, the Visitor's Center for Dinosaur National Monument is closed for renovations until October. I was in the mood for some hiking, so it was fine that there was no Visitor's Center to see all the dinosaur bones along the side of a hill.

We took a bus ride up into the Dinosaur National Monument Area and took the "Fossil Discovery" hike. Not sure how long the hike was--only that there wasn't a single bit of shade. What do you expect when you're hiking in East Utah?

Right off the bat, Hunter took off to be right up front with the Ranger asking all sorts of questions and being very attentive.

I started behind (way behind) and hiked alongside Robyn who was moving at a comfortable, let's-touch-every-rock, kind of pace.

She was a good, little hiker.

The Ranger would constantly ask Robyn questions to which she always enthusiastically replied "YEAH!" (See picture below--you can see the ranger's feet in the upper left corner of the photo) Even though she had no clue...

While the Discovery Trail was an adventure, my favorite part of the day was when we ventured off the beaten path (literally) and drove into the canyon. For a moment there we thought we were lost as we followed the map given to us by the ranger. But, we eventually came to a place called Josie's Cabin.

An oasis in the middle of the desert. Lots of shade trees and picnic tables--perfect for a picnic lunch.

Learning the story of Josie Bassett Morris is quite intriguing! You could take some short hikes into Box Canyon if you wanted while relaxing here and wandering around this old homestead complete with a four room cabin, a chicken coop (pictured), a cellar and livestock (okay, there aren't any livestock here anymore).

So, if you're venturing through this part of Utah I recommend picnicking at Josie's Cabin--a bit off the beaten path but you won't regret it. If you appreciate the desert, the drive is quite scenic.

New Favorite Places

My definition of a successful vacation is getting to go places and do things you've never done before. So, here's to new favorite places!

First up: Hobbit Trail and Beach, Yachats, OR

The best way to see this AWESOME, postcard-worthy photo of the Hobbit Trail trailhead is to view it as big as you can!

And to think the ocean is just on the other side of these characteristic trees.

This 1/2 mile trail was recommended to us by my wonderful mother-in-law. She knows how much I love these types of short hikes that my children will do.

This trail is somewhat of a secret. It took me three tries to find it. Aidan was so sure he'd have a miserable time when I said we'd be going on a hike. He quickly changed his mind...

Why do they call it the Hobbit Trail? This is why.

The whole hike engulfs you in a forest full of huge, twisted trees. And, as you get closer to the beach, you literally go through what Hunter and Robyn call "Tree Tunnels". You have to duck to get through them while you go deeper and deeper into the dug out trail. You'll find these little tunnels all along the beach.

Yep--we felt like a hobbit. It was vegetation right out of a fairy tale! And you come out the other end to be greeted by a rather inviting, secluded beach! Have I said it enough?!

Breathtaking!

This beach doesn't boast big climbing rock (so typical of the Oregon Coast) but greets you with a sandy beach complete with an awesome sandhill.

There's shallow tiny, freshwater streams everywhere running into the ocean. That provided endless entertainment for Robyn.

So, if you ever find yourself driving Highway 101 in Oregon, make sure you stop and hike The Hobbit Trail.

Mother Nature Rambles

I've spent my morning watching nature in my backyard. For some reasons it's quite entertaining today! After watering, birds flock in to grab the worms and hang out at the bird feeders.
The Gardenia bush is in full bloom (a month earlier than last year)
and Aidan's wildflowers are going crazy (still can't identify them yet).
Then there are my first Black Swallowtail caterpillars on my dill. Yes, I planted dill for the caterpillars...not really to harvest.
I watch as a feisty Blue Jay comes down and plucks one off the plant and flies away. I feel torn: I love seeing Mr. Blue Jay and the caterpillars--but the bird will always prevail. So, I have to let go of my ridiculous sadness for losing a caterpillar and be joyful that I've supplied a natural food for the birds as well. I'm sure they'll be back for more. They better or I'll run out of dill for the little crawlers.

Just gets me more excited as I wait for the day-lilies to bloom and for the Hummingbirds to return...still waiting for their favorite flowers to start blooming (any day now). Last but not least, waiting for the Monarch caterpillars to come back to the milkweed.

I didn't plant a vegetable garden for me this year. I just wanted to plant for Mother Nature.

Maybe you think I'm weird--but I find it entertaining to watch it all. I will sometimes drop everything to just sit and observe.