New Years Day nature walk...

This is the first New Years Day since Fred and I have been together that we didn't go to Mom and Dad's ranch. (Dad and Mom were in Houston celebrating the New Year) I normally take nature shots over at their ranch and decided to go and take photos in the pasture surrounding the house here instead.

 Eastern Phoebe



Texas Scaly Lizard...

I chased this little darl'in around and around the tree trying to get a decent shot!

To bad someone didn't have a camera on me, I'm sure I looked goofy!

Green Mesquite branches against a beautiful blue sky! 

Ya would think being winter the grasshoppers would be gone, NOT!!  

The birds are loving these red berries and they sure do brighten up the dry dull brush too! 

Prickly Pear Cactus hugging a tree. See the Love ♥ Ouch!

This is what it looked like as I was walking and taking photos...South Texas Brush!

I Love it! There's always something to take photos of...

Oak leaves hanging on... 

Red Admiral butterfly...

there were two of them fluttering around. I had a tough time trying to get a photo, they were busy, very busy! 

I just liked it!  

Long billed Thrasher...

It was hiding in the brush and I waited and waited for it to move, as you can see I had no such luck! 

 I'm only familiar with a few Texas trees, this is not one of them. I see these all the time with smooth bark, and I like them, no clue as to what it is though.

Fire Ant Hill...

Hmm...disrupted Fire Ant Hill, looks like a boot print? I wonder who did that :o)

Very Un-happy fire ants...Oops!



 Click on it for a closer look, you don't mess with them whether they are happy or NOT, they bite!

  

Cockle Burrs, they like hanging out in Julies mane and tail :o)

I've even pulled a few out of Lydia's tail too...they're really a pain!

Every time I see them though I think "Velcro".

Another Long Billed Thrasher...

this one wasn't buried in brush but I couldn't get close enough for a decent shot... 

Mockingbird, Texas State Bird! 

 Oh Yeah! Another Grasshopper...

A twist and tangle of Oak branches, love it! 

 Mestra amymone butterfly...

This one was moving pretty quick too...

best time for butterfly photos is in the Morning, not early afternoon.

And last but not least a Northern Cardinal. They're all over but pretty shy, not like the ones in town that sit and pose for photos at bird feeders :o)

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I enjoyed my New Years Day Nature walk and I hope you did too!



Happy New Year!

Here's wishing you a Happy-Healthy 2011!

December Advent Layout!

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I enjoyed doing these layouts during the month of December.
Scrapping with Liz designed the templates, thanks Liz.

December Layout Challenge

Scrapping with Liz had another challenge on her blog for the month of December and here's my take on the challenge...

Click here if you would like to check out the challange and pick up the free template.

This is why I love South Texas. No matter what time of year it is, there is always a bit of sunshine and living things surrounding you! Life thrives here and so do I. It's Mid-December and we have hibiscus and wildflowers in bloom and crab-spiders spinning webs, looking for dinner.

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Credits:

Paper and Elements from a collaboration kit called "Curiosity" designed by Edeline designs & Joyce Paul Designs.

Ahh....

Chocolate Chip cookies...

they just sounded so good and they taste even better!
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The Lego Shuttle...

When Fred saw the Shuttle kit he told me "I am NOT putting that together"...ha ha ha

Christmas day I took a nap and woke up to this...Fred working on the shuttle! I had to chuckle. I asked him what happened and he said Michael wouldn't stop bugging him.

So I thought I'd be nice and I started working on putting together the other parts of the shuttle kit...the launch pad above.

Michael helped and we put together the rockets for blast off...

Our accomplishment!

and Daddy? he was still working on the shuttle, ekk.
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Yea finally completed! It holds a satellite and an arm to release it into space!
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Michael loves it...

Daddy and Michael posing with the Shuttle!
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The Shuttle after it has landed.

Christmas Morning...Ho Ho Ho

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Michael was shocked when he saw that Santa had brought him a Kinect for his Xbox 360. The "Calvin can't fly" book is too cute and we've read it several times and all that candy!

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Oh Oh Oh...what is it?
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Uh Oh...I kind of got carried away with the tape, ekk.
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Love that smile :o)
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Michael had ordered this and had forgotten all about it, lol...he was just tickled!

There is just so many Lego kits and I wasn't sure which one he wanted so we got online one day and I had him pick one out. When it arrived I hid it, sneaky Momma!
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Okay he was not thrilled when he opened up this gift, a piece of paper???

Then I explained to him it was a gift certificate for a season pass to Splashway! When I told him that, he was so excited and asked if we could go the next day, ekk! I had to explain to him that they are only open during the summer months and we could go in May. He wasn't too happy but I told him that quiet a few of his friends also got Season passes for Splashway and we'd be seeing them a lot this summer.
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A tank and military set from cousin Jayne, Mark and Ricky! Oh soo cool!

and it wouldn't be a Christmas photo without one of the animals getting their butt in the photo!
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Michael got Daddy some Dallas Cowboy footies!
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Grammy with her cup from Michael.
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Fred with his game camera...

be prepared as soon as we decide where we are going to put it I might just have some wildlife photos for you!
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Mom with a gift from her grandchildren Teagan and Tucker.
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A basket made here in Texas from us..."The girls of Brenham"

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Okay so he was excited with his other gifts but he was really excited when he received this from Grammy, Wow! The kids got more money in the bank than we do, sheesh!
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Love this photo of Daddy and Michael...A special moment on Christmas Morn.
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Michael helping Grammy, she wasn't opening her gifts fast enough!
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Michael and Grammy sharing a hug!

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We had a great Christmas and hope y'all did too!