Open Sesame Sky Watch ...

My sky on The Prairie is constantly changing. So I am constantly looking out and up. When I see something that speaks to me, my Dog and I are out the door. I found this terrific opening into the clouds, a few nights ago, just as a nice gentle rain began to fall. Thank you, Ali Baba.

You can see skies around the world today, Skywatch Friday, at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Walking The Property ...

And smelling the Lilacs, with my Goo Goo Doll ... just another day on The Prairie.

Study In Green ...

Snow white winters trigger my love for the color green. The grass is first, then the tips of the trees. When they totally leaf out it's an explosion. This is my backyard looking north. I'm not going to post any photos of the house until it's painted.

Memorial Day 2009 ...

I fell apart, even more so, when I noticed this Yellow Rose of Texas arrangement at the funeral home the night before my sister Wendy's service. It was a gift from my dear friend Shellie Rice, and it was all wrapped up in a ton of Love ... something I would have perished without. It came from everywhere and it saved me.

I've lost friends. I've lost family. And I've lost Soldiers I didn't know in Wars I'll never understand. So Memorial Day for me is an even more important day of Love.

May all the Souls of the Faithfully Departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen ... from The Prairie.

The Inside ...

God had a great imagination when he put all of this together.

Did He just say, "Let it be the ultimate". "And let it be different than the last one". And did He then say, "Poof!" And then, "Crazy, Baby"!

Is my God all that different than yours ?

I've Had My Oil Paints Out Again ...

NOT .

Black and White and Sally Gall ...

I studied Black and White Photography with Sally Gall at the Glassell Art School. I think she would like this.

Terrace Gardening ...

I took this photograph in Avignon. One wall, a wide variety of plants and succulents, some flowers, an artistic Gardener with Friends, and a very tall ladder.

And while my own garden is still coming to life, you can click on this photo for a bit of Spring inspiration.

Love from The Prairie, where yesterday, I ran the AC for the first time. xoxo.

I'm Growing Sunflowers ...

I grabbed these photos off of Wickipedia. I've started my own from seeds, but this field photo was taken about 100 miles from here. Later this summer we will see millions of them.

Mine are planted in six tall, square, black, Houston City Slicker pots. They used to line our driveway with the latest freshest flower of the Season, and they were a nice sophisticated accent to my nice sophisticated life. Now they contain a simple natural Prairie beauty.

Sunflowers are related to the Jerusalem Artichoke and were first discovered in Peru. The Incas worshiped them as representation of the Sun God. They are the symbol of the Vegan Society and the subject of Van Gogh's most famous still life. In the bud stage, Sunflowers exhibit heliotropism by motor cells, rotating with the sun all day long, then back to the East at night. They produce latex too, and should you need it, their growth pattern model has coordinates of n=1.500. Love from The Prairie. xoxo.

My Mother, Myself, My Sister, My Niece ...

Mother's Day has changed for me, now that I have experienced the death of my only Sister, Wendy ... who incidentally ... is perched inside this Tulip. Talk about Heaven.

My Mother and Wendy share a bond quite different than the bond she and I share. Wendy was the 3rd and last child my Mom gave birth to after many miscarriages, and her delivery was life threatening. She grew up a spoiled and undisciplined Brat. Add one alcoholic Father and you get trouble. But over our adult relationship, we earned Black Belts in therapy and worked through our issues. Tons.

Wendy fostered many impressive characteristics in her own daughter, Catherine. In spite of her difficulties, she came through. And when she died, my life and my role in Catherine's life changed dramatically. I developed an automatic protective instinct that runs so deep in me that I almost go breathless when I try to describe it. I don't even try to compare it to Motherhood ... it can't be. It is wrenching. It is amazing. It's painful. It's wonderful. It's just like it should be ... it's love. Will I even be able to stand it when this beautiful, both inside and out, child, has children of her own ?

I vied for my Mother's attention my entire childhood. At times I still do. You see, there is my older Brother, Randy, in our mix. And we just go from one long period of not speaking to each other into another. Yet he and Mom have a bond too, that I am just not in on.

My Mother is a fantastic Lady. I didn't cause her much grief. And I'm not her Hunting Buddy. But at this stage, surrounding our circumstances, she depends on me ... And I do love that about us. It's not perfect ... it's just real. And she and I laugh a lot. Deep, long, and loud laughs. Happy Mother's Day, Mom ... and Wendy, and Catherine. I heart you, Girls !

Stampede Sky Watch Friday ...

Move 'em on, head 'em up. Head 'em up, move 'em on. Rawhide!

Rollin Rolling Rollin,
though the streams are swollen
Keep them Doggies Rollin, Rawhide !

Through rain and wind and weather.
Hell bent for leather.
Wishin' my Gal was by my side.

All the things I'm missin',
good fiddles, love and kissin
are waiting at the end of my line!

Keep movin', movin', movin'.
though they're disapprovin'.
Keep them doggies movin',
Rawhide!

Don't try to understand 'em.
Just rope 'n throw 'n and brand 'em.
Soon we'll be livin' high and wide.

My heart's palpalatin',
my true love will be waitin',
be waitin' at the end of my ride!

Move 'em on, head 'em up.
Head 'em up, move 'em on.
Move 'em on, head 'em up.
Rawhide!

Frankie Laine wrote this awesome and very catchy tune. Now try to get it off of your mind. Love from The Prairie. xoxo.

Skies around The World at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Sixo de Mayo ...

I missed posting yesterday as we were in The Falls Of The Sioux. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo there, at Chevy's. The party was about to get pretty lively at Happy Hour ... they were setting up for a huge bash out on their patio.

I spotted these adorable Twin Sisters coming in the door, in cute sundresses and matching hats. I had hoped to catch their tanned arms and shoulders but Chevy's A/C was kicking out some chill on this 75 degree and sunny beautiful day.

Learn Something New Every Day ...

Cilantro is something I start cooking with right about now. There is something about Spring the makes me crave it. Ron used to say he didn't care for it ... but I kept using it anyway. I didn't know until recently that the seed of Cilantro is Coriander. In Folk Medicine it's used to treat Anxiety and Insomnia. OK ... go on with your day. I'm moving my plants outside. XOXO from The Prairie.