tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291841272024-03-07T03:17:05.243-06:00TexiforniaWhere California and Texas cultures collide.Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.comBlogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-62725061780197586512023-12-30T18:03:00.001-06:002023-12-30T18:05:56.771-06:00After Christmas Shopping Steals<p>In the days and even weeks after Christmas, you can find some amazing deals on Christmas decor and wrapping paper. I always shop for these items for next Christmas Dec 26 through early January. <br /><br />But if you have a keen eye you can also find great deals on wrapping supplies that can be used for Valentines, St. Patrick's day, and Birthdays.<br /><br />Here are some recent finds at our Target that could serve these other celebrations....all 50% off. <br /><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lovelies for Valentines...</b></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx8gaJy5-P9m-RUbFxvl1Yp62fnoDZSuwmMeTajlAG6ZEIRdWVyz6ZteaR4DvBtM1qJ_K_lUZxYv1PpiPD0IvwxzW6a6FibL85s-EXc0WDqqT7lazsvf-VxebcXgg_DP8lVeDUqTbQe4bwgTYdIjSkBffDJ6ctiR5KmzXxBhnxMbo-bgEQZnrQQ/s1600/HeartsStars.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx8gaJy5-P9m-RUbFxvl1Yp62fnoDZSuwmMeTajlAG6ZEIRdWVyz6ZteaR4DvBtM1qJ_K_lUZxYv1PpiPD0IvwxzW6a6FibL85s-EXc0WDqqT7lazsvf-VxebcXgg_DP8lVeDUqTbQe4bwgTYdIjSkBffDJ6ctiR5KmzXxBhnxMbo-bgEQZnrQQ/s1600/HeartsStars.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L3u-6Ez9U7EmiKBzTigycXH0IpnAa6WGAXPZLkQyD6hT1pik6ka81ULoul_1TtDACT0vuq5sF5w6HeOe3GEnPV7BAw6kUVjoYciRBaMH3yw2o2yer-Cy4z0X3D1nSOBPWJztgmIhjPkX2nQqxtq9uBOSJCl94_g1h39VhKwUiPsF2Jqm2sHxIg/s1600/RedSparkly.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9L3u-6Ez9U7EmiKBzTigycXH0IpnAa6WGAXPZLkQyD6hT1pik6ka81ULoul_1TtDACT0vuq5sF5w6HeOe3GEnPV7BAw6kUVjoYciRBaMH3yw2o2yer-Cy4z0X3D1nSOBPWJztgmIhjPkX2nQqxtq9uBOSJCl94_g1h39VhKwUiPsF2Jqm2sHxIg/s1600/RedSparkly.jpg" /><br /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Birthday Bargains...<br /><br /></span></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnPY-d5dt2UsDBXI56SGHPFiAZYkfymmmCi-zH-k_EsWdAASQm3elvNb_BB4wfn5kY1q-CaV1pF5x49AhLyt7zVfeCW4YIUccVcrERNCxc7_OUNnha2k39CCxj_Ym6RMb3-ig5HmZF_Nlnf7SjPifNM6s5JRncQX-Ahk7En6IxWNxwQy6cIX_PA/s1600/SparklyBlue.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnPY-d5dt2UsDBXI56SGHPFiAZYkfymmmCi-zH-k_EsWdAASQm3elvNb_BB4wfn5kY1q-CaV1pF5x49AhLyt7zVfeCW4YIUccVcrERNCxc7_OUNnha2k39CCxj_Ym6RMb3-ig5HmZF_Nlnf7SjPifNM6s5JRncQX-Ahk7En6IxWNxwQy6cIX_PA/s1600/SparklyBlue.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp7TborZFjNqsDBaFYi8_PT8MaHeQ1f-5YYPiN22LG3NmF6tKIbndkgwqBjYweMFCJ0FS9Lyw3t_46ygeEYxF_rgwDYcSYVQIgtwshrlq9ZkxAEeFrQikWDl8_dWou-2X_5jsbwKEI4JQiJWyw08ekIRL8M_nYZc_JicUTj55SHHKavaTblZcFQ/s1600/PlaidStars.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp7TborZFjNqsDBaFYi8_PT8MaHeQ1f-5YYPiN22LG3NmF6tKIbndkgwqBjYweMFCJ0FS9Lyw3t_46ygeEYxF_rgwDYcSYVQIgtwshrlq9ZkxAEeFrQikWDl8_dWou-2X_5jsbwKEI4JQiJWyw08ekIRL8M_nYZc_JicUTj55SHHKavaTblZcFQ/s1600/PlaidStars.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB09BQ-nptPmRVdA6wimqxYdcGAy_XLfXUFbRInYiG0ullfxrP_EQS1JiwQDte2zITXO70p9W2K-4da30wGLokQb4brIACddRWFBzKnCaGox-uuT79klYnd_wwM4HZwgeAA2eyy1Ss4CylB0og2-Rit6K8inSpq32UE-1gKmpd7rvgIV4edpHSKg/s1600/PinkBlack2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB09BQ-nptPmRVdA6wimqxYdcGAy_XLfXUFbRInYiG0ullfxrP_EQS1JiwQDte2zITXO70p9W2K-4da30wGLokQb4brIACddRWFBzKnCaGox-uuT79klYnd_wwM4HZwgeAA2eyy1Ss4CylB0og2-Rit6K8inSpq32UE-1gKmpd7rvgIV4edpHSKg/s1600/PinkBlack2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGsbnhegCvV2lYEdsw9mluGgQJPR34YLAlJRJUr9prp70HSVVMCYfo8vHdJWP5BCeluzxbLjH3M4EIi-4KU5ER1cKmVHv890qJm5LKTQZpodd5JvrTYbXQ3xSI5nVi7c1C47YRakRmAQsE9gdeHDcCmwc1nJv44c4zZVSzLlogGfOJwXxOrZaBA/s1600/SparklyMixed.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGsbnhegCvV2lYEdsw9mluGgQJPR34YLAlJRJUr9prp70HSVVMCYfo8vHdJWP5BCeluzxbLjH3M4EIi-4KU5ER1cKmVHv890qJm5LKTQZpodd5JvrTYbXQ3xSI5nVi7c1C47YRakRmAQsE9gdeHDcCmwc1nJv44c4zZVSzLlogGfOJwXxOrZaBA/s1600/SparklyMixed.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaf9VQwKoH9PwcBjwjlZ_iEQEOMdK1rToh1cZUtq3kR_PUsXA9Ue7ipv9IR0wDM9QkljghhenhmqnhlQ9SJwE30zkV70gC0q_lvu4Ct07QSp5fjEcnvjugmxYj7yxfgVq05gs5zuMjds4pxTe_FVWGzf3p-eGudsZ3p9o9557ctCfqfREfhyc1A/s1600/GreenGold2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaf9VQwKoH9PwcBjwjlZ_iEQEOMdK1rToh1cZUtq3kR_PUsXA9Ue7ipv9IR0wDM9QkljghhenhmqnhlQ9SJwE30zkV70gC0q_lvu4Ct07QSp5fjEcnvjugmxYj7yxfgVq05gs5zuMjds4pxTe_FVWGzf3p-eGudsZ3p9o9557ctCfqfREfhyc1A/s1600/GreenGold2.jpg" /></a></div>Not as much gets wrapped for St. Patrick's Day, but if you do wrap anything for that, there's some green and gold papers above that would work for that too. I also saw some paper with a purple v-shape design at one target. And there's lots of tissue paper options (plain red, white...I even got a set with blue, black and white).<br /><br />If you craft, the tissue paper is useful for that too. <br /><br />There was lots of this left. I'm not getting paid by Target to say this, just sharing from there as it's a place that tends to be in both Texas and California. Lots of drug stores, like Walgreens and CVS, and of course places like Walmart, have after Christmas sales too. (The drug store sales tend to be around the longest because people don't think to shop there as much as the larger stores). <br /><br /><br />People say you can't save money by spending...but when they are things you would have to buy anyways, it pays to buy them when they are cheaper. Happy savings! <br /><br /><br /><br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-2240456810457626532022-03-03T18:33:00.003-06:002024-03-02T20:19:31.864-06:00Garden Tips: Seed Organization<p>If you are planting multiple seeds in the same bed, and want to stagger them (so you want to have both the seeds out to use at the same time), use caps for various things in a larger Tupperware, dish, or box to put the seeds into for easy access.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioqjVfpsZP0B0zasTth5qza5WGw5Seeum--z9nAOhe8p8b8AIssT2-F34ftid-Hp_PSbI9ZY5RKgYdl98Ky8Vi8qaHZJAmGjQt8UhvQf21xH86I51y2fgTmgbopD9XaqbxMFo2dZeTcvk498-CM359AhIsrvfiBfwLgoLpzryCTAh5mWt5324=s490" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Seeds organized in caps" border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioqjVfpsZP0B0zasTth5qza5WGw5Seeum--z9nAOhe8p8b8AIssT2-F34ftid-Hp_PSbI9ZY5RKgYdl98Ky8Vi8qaHZJAmGjQt8UhvQf21xH86I51y2fgTmgbopD9XaqbxMFo2dZeTcvk498-CM359AhIsrvfiBfwLgoLpzryCTAh5mWt5324=s16000" /></a></div><br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-76131683021420641712021-11-20T18:01:00.002-06:002021-11-20T18:01:09.683-06:00Two Views of Californian's Immigrating to Texas<p>Two articles in Texas monthly recently (or sort of recently) dealt with California transplants (among others)...<br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/29184127/7613168302142064171"><br /> The Newest Texans Are Not Who You Think They Are</a> It's subtitle read "The record influx of recent arrivals from all over might be exactly what the state needs. That includes Californians. (And no, they’re not turning Texas blue.) "<br /><br />The second, written back in March, was a little less optimistic...<a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/californians-could-ruin-texas-but-not-the-way-you-might-think/ ">Californian's Could Ruin Texas - but Not In the Way You Think</a>.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-38849647240629134322020-07-12T16:22:00.000-05:002020-07-12T16:22:44.167-05:00Charters<div data-contents="true">
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<span data-offset-key="dj40s-0-0"><span data-text="true">I don't support Betsy DeVos threatening to withhold funding for schools that don't open and opt for distance learning in stead...but this line from this article made me so angry...</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4c7uc-0-0"><span data-text="true">"But make no mistake, if schools don’t reopen, DeVos is going to hand over public school tax dollars to parents to educate children any way they want. What options will they have? Lousy charters? Online programs that have a known failure rate?"</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6bcf6-0-0"><span data-text="true">While there are some "lousy charters" just like there aresome "lousy public schools," there are also many excellent charters who are doing a great job with kids. And that "known failure rate" of online programs is compared to regular in person schooling...we have no idea how the distance learning programs brick and mortar schools are cooking up during the summer will compare to what the charters have previously done, and have no reason to assume they will do better. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="38its-0-0"><span data-text="true">And when many schools went to distance learning this year who did they go to for advice about how to do it? Charter schools that had already been doing it! And yeah, those hastily planned models schools quickly moved to weren't great, but that's because they were formed without much time to set them up correctly (crisis schooling, not real distance learning, right?). But they wouldn't have been better trying to "invent the wheel" from scratch, I'm certain of that. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="a08im-0-0"><span data-text="true">It would make so much sense to let as many students as possible transfer to distance learning charters that have experience. But in our state, our state just passed a funding plan that would base all school funding on last year's enrollment, therefor cutting off all chances for charters to expand to meet demand. And the demand is high. Parents, understandably, were flocking to distance learning charters and independent learning charters. Even before this charters were putting some families on a waiting list (cause they had some limits on how much they can expand). But now new families who had already been accepted to these charters were sent letters saying...sorry, we can't take you because the funding we expected to be there was pulled. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="ceh7i-0-0"><span data-text="true">Meanwhile in LA teachers unions actually made a moratorium on charters one of their demands they are threatening to strike over. I support them striking due to covid safety issues and paid sick leave, but demanding a moratorium on charters is just a slap to the face to their fellow educators in charter schools (oh, and we ALREADY had a moratorium on new non-classroom charters schools until 2022...LOVELY. That's working out SO WELL, isn't it).</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8su7j-0-0"><span data-text="true">Not as bad as Texas educational organizations threatening to deny funding to their own schools if they choose to do distance learning, but it's still a poor choice.</span></span></div>
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-53615468796256096212020-06-24T15:41:00.005-05:002023-03-25T18:00:15.875-06:00How to Save Money on SpicesI have a secret to save 50% or more on spices! Some stores, such as HEB, Whole Foods, and Sprouts have a section where where you can buy loose herbs and spices. In stead of buying spices each in their own little bottle, you fill up a baggie from a large canister and pay by how much it weighs, and then you can refill your spice bottles at home. Generally, the cost is much, much less to buy spices this way. <br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i>The bulk herb section of the HEB in Hewitt, TX</i></span></div>
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Below is some cumin I purchased--two small scoops. Notice the price, 69
cents! The bag doesn't look big, but it filled up the whole spice jar shown in the next picture down.<br />
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And yes, that jar was EMPTY. <b>So $0.69 filled up a whole jar which usually costs around $6.</b> Now, that jar was organic*, and so might have been a little pricier than most. But even compared to the LOWEST priced jar I could find of bottled cumin ($1.99 for 1.7 oz of HEB generic cumin), my bag of cumin was 1/3 the cost! Guess you pay a lot for that jar!<br />
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And yes, I've tried similar comparisons with other spices. Even at a pricier store like Whole Foods, the bulk spices were much less than the regular spices at other grocery stores. <br /><br />Herbs that aren't ground give you an even better savings, usually (since they take up more space but are very light). Bulky herbs, like bay leaves or cinnamon sticks tend to cost A LOT less loose than in jars (often a savings of 75% or more). <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
*(SIDE NOTE: If you are concerned about GMO, you should know that very
few herbs have ever been genetically modified, probably because they
tend to be naturally critter resistant. The only ones I'm aware of are
sugar cane, alfalfa, chicory, flax, eucalyptus, rose and chrysanthemum [edible
flowers], and tobacco if you count that (and except for sugar, you would not find any of those on most spice aisles anyways). Of course these lists change so you can always check the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetically_modified_crops">GMO crops list on wikipedia</a> or this list at the <a href="https://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/default.asp">ISAAA</a>.)</p><p><br />
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<br /></p>Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-61762478464577361632020-05-04T21:03:00.000-05:002020-05-04T21:03:47.592-05:00Quarentine Lawn Decor<br />
Found this walking around our San Diego neighborhood last month...<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHSKLCJzmfXIr1AOwLvQn14xfkTzTZZZgQUo9RAnZBkZdNd-v1CTyf7zQhU7rIpFOa9PLigMJUYGVXFm90yrNoVFpUoqHPvThIooAfLBBMooHg84fdPZOzGb27YyR6ILtFivFuQ/s1600/2020-04-15+14.02.13c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHSKLCJzmfXIr1AOwLvQn14xfkTzTZZZgQUo9RAnZBkZdNd-v1CTyf7zQhU7rIpFOa9PLigMJUYGVXFm90yrNoVFpUoqHPvThIooAfLBBMooHg84fdPZOzGb27YyR6ILtFivFuQ/s320/2020-04-15+14.02.13c.jpg" width="490" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdbrve3RhcbiRpSxzP8ypHBuzgCunCfkSM1MG3iBnvDq6cXAkII5G2p-KTC8VvXDLYXqfzy_pyjWT7NPLiw9hE9S8VIP9OlAScIf9uZNycW6VGDRY7epfzGrgNI9gdwqV6TBpjA/s1600/2020-04-15+14.02.13cc490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdbrve3RhcbiRpSxzP8ypHBuzgCunCfkSM1MG3iBnvDq6cXAkII5G2p-KTC8VvXDLYXqfzy_pyjWT7NPLiw9hE9S8VIP9OlAScIf9uZNycW6VGDRY7epfzGrgNI9gdwqV6TBpjA/s1600/2020-04-15+14.02.13cc490.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-63915641874076900522020-05-02T15:48:00.001-05:002020-11-27T23:51:21.349-06:00Garden Tip: Use Faux Plants to Protect Real Ones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaaa5YozSl9-GrzkTvcjKsK5zrK8kq2-qePoSonCQFubof3hkho8z_wMxbC75T0uqPF0g8Qt0qnvPLoIPhbY_1XpImZwn6vGFDK13hgndip4w5Aah3WCrejcfyTGqD70UrVI6sQ/s1600/faux-flowers480.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaaa5YozSl9-GrzkTvcjKsK5zrK8kq2-qePoSonCQFubof3hkho8z_wMxbC75T0uqPF0g8Qt0qnvPLoIPhbY_1XpImZwn6vGFDK13hgndip4w5Aah3WCrejcfyTGqD70UrVI6sQ/s1600/faux-flowers480.png" /></a></div>
<br />
This is an easy garden tip I learned by accident. I had tried and tried to grow plants from seeds on my back porch when I was living in an apartment, but time and again the hot Texas sun fried the seedlings before they could grow. So, in frustration one day I just stuck a bunch of fake flowers in the pot, strait down into the soil I had planned for real flowers.<br />
<br />
And then, two weeks later, I noticed some new leaves pushing up through the faux plants. REAL petunia seeds had sprouted under the shade of the fake flowers and were now inching their way past them to the sunlight.<br />
<br />
Even when we moved to a house with a real yard, I used this technique. I'd buy dollar store fake flowers, and stick them in the ground over my rows of carrots, beans, peppers, ect. until the plants were strong and hardy enough to do without the shade. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-4Zp22tLsHnqU-c7qjdQjRFvTiDpUg_8h8qwNWG2b0z_0uHjH2AHsFtHSRJ6zxUaml89nN1PJTk9Sb_yMwnnE7S2h1g7sAbt3XvYkd6dn8aUdTRoiIWDydG_jM0Q7DscQldRMQ/s0/flowershade490.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-4Zp22tLsHnqU-c7qjdQjRFvTiDpUg_8h8qwNWG2b0z_0uHjH2AHsFtHSRJ6zxUaml89nN1PJTk9Sb_yMwnnE7S2h1g7sAbt3XvYkd6dn8aUdTRoiIWDydG_jM0Q7DscQldRMQ/s0/flowershade490.JPG" /></a></div><br />Above you can see a young green been being protected by some of these dollar store flowers. <br />
<br />
Yes, you can also start seedlings inside and transfer them once they're stronger...but that doesn't work with all types of plants, and it's an extra step you can skip if you use fake flowers or something else to shade them. And the fake flowers are easy to use and look pretty in the meantime. <br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-20340643119641241472020-04-02T14:52:00.001-06:002020-04-02T14:52:34.263-06:00What To Plant In Texas In April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc2M6_RA2u58sVWbSXtkSMl_vXnjCxGHKME5eKg4Itz3ncV7RwNkpUh04Hj0m8swcwFmMIAD2CwXOC89B_ZnH7t-LA9CITkghzEoL8Emv77T7z0IlVoZ5f3zz3yWs3PG0ST_Ohw/s1600/APRILveggiemosaic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSc2M6_RA2u58sVWbSXtkSMl_vXnjCxGHKME5eKg4Itz3ncV7RwNkpUh04Hj0m8swcwFmMIAD2CwXOC89B_ZnH7t-LA9CITkghzEoL8Emv77T7z0IlVoZ5f3zz3yWs3PG0ST_Ohw/s640/APRILveggiemosaic.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clayirving/2895432305/">Cantaloupes</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51004712@N08/5112259776/">Collards</a>, 3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbitting/3683104066/">Corn</a>, 4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37884983@N03/3744275657/">Cucumber</a>, 5. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30014417@N04/5114647573/">Cushaw</a> (and Pumpkins) 6. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjl20/33705389/">Eggplant</a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51004712@N08/5111468177/">Melons (honeydew)</a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kthread/4984515400/">Lima Beans</a>, 9. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/swanksalot/5220674569/">Luffa</a>, 10. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/3960880889/">Malabar Spinach</a>, 11. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluehillranch/4822948813/">Okra</a>, 12. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/antanith/3781035789/">Peppers</a>, 13. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindyfunk/1478355784/">Pumpkin.</a>, 14. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soilscience/5097151272/">Snapbeans (19)</a>, 15. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11349606@N00/351790512/">Southern Peas</a>, 16. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37884983@N03/3781936872/">Summer Squash</a>, 17. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nataliemaynor/3998726817/">Sweet Potatoes</a>, 18. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenorton/2467953374/">Swiss Chard</a>, 19. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/photon_de/2700323949/">Tomato</a>* 20. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37884983@N03/3724216650/">Watermelon</a><br />
<br />
*On tomatoes plant transplants (too late to plant from seed)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Month-Gardening-Texas-Beautiful-Garden/dp/159186237X?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Month by Month Gardening in Texas: What to Do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=159186237X&tag=widgetsamazon-20" /></a>These
are all plants which are great for planting in April here in Texas.
I've been learning all about the best time to plant different plants
from a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Month-Gardening-Texas-Beautiful-Garden/dp/159186237X?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Month-to-Month Gardening in Texas</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=159186237X" height="1" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.
I wish I had gotten this book years ago...it's teaching me so much
about Texas gardening that I really was absolutely clueless on! I knew
Texas had two growing seasons but I really didn't understand when the
seasons started or ended. It turns out I trying to grow nearly
everything at the wrong time! I'm going to try to share tips from the
book each month (but there's so much info, I couldn't even begin to
share it all). They also share what else you need to do each month
(when to fertilize, aerate your soil, tackle weeds, etc.). <br />
<br />
But, if you just want info on what veggies and herbs to plant each month, you can also get that information online <a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/What-To-Plant-Now.aspx">here</a>. That's a good resource for other states too.<br />
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<br />
<hr />
I
found the photos for my mosaic on Flickr, and the photographers were
nice enough to offer up for use through Creative Commons (click on the
links to see the photos larger). Yes, the Sountern Peas (ie cowpeas) in
that picture are blighted (that was just a hard one to find, so I took
what I could get.) <br />
<br />
I'm linking up at the gardening linkies at <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/fuR42">Living More, Spending Less</a> and <a href="http://ramblingsofachristianmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/gardening-and-linky.html">Ramblings of a Christian Mom</a>. Also linking up at <a href="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/mosaic-monday-signs-of-spring.html">Mosaic Monday</a>.Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-62151546720391007822020-01-01T09:00:00.000-06:002020-01-01T09:00:05.431-06:00A Decade of Blogging<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIz7BfkCOxdtHEaci_9NR6MXOkUFXvFuJ2CJ9Jx-2CX1gCS-OOd6BeSV5TV4Y5flNmSe0X5a1f4BNkc_GUo_5RJ3Dn2vC6pNKu4gscC76_Zt8Hn-jK-xeyWFMAPfk3eKPfTfkTQ/s1600/Texifornia2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIz7BfkCOxdtHEaci_9NR6MXOkUFXvFuJ2CJ9Jx-2CX1gCS-OOd6BeSV5TV4Y5flNmSe0X5a1f4BNkc_GUo_5RJ3Dn2vC6pNKu4gscC76_Zt8Hn-jK-xeyWFMAPfk3eKPfTfkTQ/s1600/Texifornia2020.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Wow, it's been an amazing decade. It's hard to believe I've been blogging this long...but Texifornia was already 5 years old in 2010!<br />
<br />
So much happened in my life during this time. I survived the <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/2011/10/souvenir-spotlight-texas-heat-wave.html" target="_blank">hottest summer in Texas</a> history, learned how to <a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com/search/label/gardening" target="_blank">garden in Texas</a>, discovered <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/search/label/wildflowers" target="_blank">wildflowers</a> and <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/search/label/wildlife" target="_blank">wildlife</a>, had my back yard <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/2011/09/firein-our-yard.html" target="_blank">catch fire</a>, lost my <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/2012/02/finally-posting-again.html" target="_blank">dad</a> to Parkinsons and my <a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/2013/10/still-seems-unreal.html" target="_blank">mom</a> to COPD, saw my kids grow from elementary through high school, spent four years homeschooling my youngest, and, in 2017, moved back to my home state of California after 20 years in Texas. What a decade!<br />
<br />
I thought I'd go back and see what posts through the years resonated...in stead of just doing a top ten, I thought I'd do the top post from each year. Here there are, in chronological order....<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
2010<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2010/11/thoughts-following-this-election.html" target="_blank">Thoughts Following This Election</a><br />
<br />
<br />
2011<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2011/03/good-cloverbad-clover.html" target="_blank">Good Clover vs. Bad Clover</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2012<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2012/04/wildflower-or-weed.html" target="_blank">Wildflower or Weed?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2013<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2013/07/california-coloring-pages.html" target="_blank">California Coloring Pages</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2014<br />
<br />
<a href="https://texifornia.blogspot.com/2014/02/human-trafficking-in-texas.html" target="_blank">Human Trafficking in Texas</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2015<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2015/01/and-now-texas-has-earthquakes.html" target="_blank">Now Texas Has Earthquakes</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2016<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2016/02/railroad-commissioner-election-time.html" target="_blank">Railroad Commissioner Websites are Comedy Gold</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2017<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com/2017/04/in-shape-of-texas.html" target="_blank">In the Shape of Texas</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2018<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2018/11/black-friday-weekend-sale.html" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com//2018/11/black-friday-weekend-sale.html" target="_blank">Black Friday Weekend Sale</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2019<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com/2019/05/things-that-make-gardener-go-hmmm.html" target="_blank">Things That Make a Gardener Go Hmm... </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-63415111970863024042019-05-08T15:57:00.001-05:002020-04-24T20:31:26.754-05:00Things that make a gardener go hmmm.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9Fpgd6tpn02tdi6xXpoH-pWykk7aoIJWsEXUManujxY-DXkr0HwDU95c6UH850T8EUHlPzs1YY-lY83hFQTmnBKO5vTsSXwXvBQDLhWwWDMkfm8ou4LO0H35fne4nA1_zGlJQ/s1600/2019-01-24+11.13.40b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9Fpgd6tpn02tdi6xXpoH-pWykk7aoIJWsEXUManujxY-DXkr0HwDU95c6UH850T8EUHlPzs1YY-lY83hFQTmnBKO5vTsSXwXvBQDLhWwWDMkfm8ou4LO0H35fne4nA1_zGlJQ/s1600/2019-01-24+11.13.40b.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That is a tomato plant.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That's right...that's a tomato plant growing on a sign out of what looks like pure concrete on the side of the road!
There were actually little green tomatoes starting to grow on it. Just one of many "we're not in Texas anymore" moments I've had since coming back to California.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgO7_6bDY2iTFNFhGCT5bamlBpx9LciRdbKwwVYbHwpEofXgKa9nrTp-RinFMMoBTm5euSKAAwo91QTBiJhXfE8lQfEAaqplFOSjfCd0drjqLJtC3IqQ8sVq0K2kNz0miukuu7Q/s1600/2019-01-24+11.13.31c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgO7_6bDY2iTFNFhGCT5bamlBpx9LciRdbKwwVYbHwpEofXgKa9nrTp-RinFMMoBTm5euSKAAwo91QTBiJhXfE8lQfEAaqplFOSjfCd0drjqLJtC3IqQ8sVq0K2kNz0miukuu7Q/s400/2019-01-24+11.13.31c.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After
how much I've struggled to keep plants alive stuff like this <span style="font-size: large;"><b>blows my
mind</b>.</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<br />
<br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-8266520982527995932018-11-23T19:38:00.001-06:002019-05-09T16:28:24.364-05:00BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND SALE<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>40 - 60% Off with coupon code </b><br />
<b><span id="page_zazzleHeader_promoSlide_header0-useCode"><span class="headerPromoPromoCode" id="page_zazzleHeader_promoSlide_header0-promoCode">BLKFRIDAYZAZ</span></span><span id="page_zazzleHeader_promoSlide_header0-useCode"><span class="headerPromoPromoCode" id="page_zazzleHeader_promoSlide_header0-promoCode"> </span></span></b> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/featured_texifornia_gear-119501040972948737?rf=238984407003792011" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Featured Texifornia Gear" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/featured_texifornia_gear_119501040972948737-r_zruer_bodj2_425.jpg" style="border: 0px none;" /></a>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/featured_texifornia_gear-119501040972948737?rf=238984407003792011" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Featured Texifornia Gear" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/featured_texifornia_gear_119501040972948737-r_zruer_bodkr_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/featured_texifornia_gear-119501040972948737?rf=238984407003792011" rel="nofollow"><img alt="Featured Texifornia Gear" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/featured_texifornia_gear_119501040972948737-r_zruer_bod6s_425.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/featured_texifornia_gear-119501040972948737?rf=238984407003792011" rel="nofollow">See What's On SALE!</a>
<br />
<br /></div>
Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-33949148068505875342018-11-02T14:56:00.000-06:002018-11-02T14:56:46.584-06:00Texifornia StatsFound this interesting tid-bit doing research on California Ballot measures today:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>From 2000 to 2015, the state lost nearly 800,000 residents with incomes near or below the poverty line. Nearly three-quarters of those who left California since 2007 made less than $50,000 annually. The leading destination for California’s poor? Texas.</b><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><i>From CalMatters Article "<a href="https://calmatters.org/articles/housing-costs-high-california/#Lawmakers-pass-housing-package-but-affordability-wont-come-soon" target="_blank">Californians, ere's why your housing prices are so high</a>."
</i></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="infogram-embed" data-id="ebb876e6-33da-4ad0-a469-f90c75aa673b" data-title="Net migration in CA by annual income, 2007 to 2013" data-type="interactive">
</div>
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<b>
So, for those here who have moved from California to Texas, was finances part of the reason?</b>Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-62501279469597886232018-09-14T16:03:00.000-05:002018-10-03T13:22:48.581-05:00Downtown MuralI'm not even sure where we were when we saw this on the side of a building (just somewhere in Southern California stopping for a bite to eat in a down-town area on the way back from somewhere else). Loved this artwork and had to take a picture. It's not a grainy pic...it was painted on a textured stone back-drop, with 3D butterflies scattered about, as well as painted ones. <br />
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Do more virtual sight-seeing at....<br />
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<a href="http://sharonrwagner.blogspot.com/2018/09/canyonlands.html" target="_blank">Sharon's Souvenir Photo Blog Hop</a><br />
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<a href="https://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My World Tuesday</a> </div>
Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-60871506594512782852018-07-06T07:04:00.000-05:002018-07-06T15:25:54.526-05:004th of July SkyI don't often take pictures of fireworks...photos don't often really capture their beauty. But the smoke around the fireworks this 4th was mesmerizing, and I had to try. I caught these...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5CKlLYJn1M6ZE6mkRNEgsoLNKyy4N5BIxVXszH1etsan7fzoJ4aX2O6c1Jr-Ia8WAec77tHw5EF-2f4i4eF9vqi4e8btUaYdVP2wa3ZJQx3hz88L1lE7zaa5lPJp_HZFgyz_-w/s1600/firework490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5CKlLYJn1M6ZE6mkRNEgsoLNKyy4N5BIxVXszH1etsan7fzoJ4aX2O6c1Jr-Ia8WAec77tHw5EF-2f4i4eF9vqi4e8btUaYdVP2wa3ZJQx3hz88L1lE7zaa5lPJp_HZFgyz_-w/s1600/firework490.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>And the rocket's red glare</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>the bombs bursting in air...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/">Sky Watch Friday</a> </i></span></div>
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-39562199055353771022018-05-01T02:02:00.000-05:002018-08-04T02:03:47.147-05:00Primrose Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was so surprised and happy to see these beauties in our local park. Mexican Evening Primrose, a little taste of the best part of Texas Spring, right here in California!Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-33712582659939901812018-01-23T21:00:00.002-06:002021-02-01T19:47:15.508-06:00San Diego SealsSo, this Christmas I had planned to take our kids on a day trip to the mountains to play in the snow....but there was no snow in nearby mountains, so we did some things closer to home in stead.<br />
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My favorite was visiting the Seals at Children's Pool right here in San Diego (no pool...it's just a beach that's called that where seals come when they are pupping).<br />
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Here's some pics we got while we were down there....<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Yes, yes that is a football next to that seal...</i></span></div>
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And here's a video of all the cute stuff we caught the seals doing...<br />
(with commentary by my three boys) </div>
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These seals are <a href="http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/pacific-harbor-seal/" target="_blank">Pacific Harbor Seals</a>. They are just one of the many <a href="http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/" target="_blank">seals and sea lions</a> that can be found in California (as a kid when I was living on the boat I remember the sea lions always used to hang out on the bouys) . <br />
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So, someone I know argued with me over whether these were sea lions or seals. Well, if you've ever wondered how to tell seals from sea-lions, there's a good guide here: <a href="http://sealconservancy.org/seals-vs-sea-lions/" target="_blank">How to Tell Sea Lions from Seals.</a><br />
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So, my oldest son also took this pic of a seagull. He hasn't been in California long enough for sea-gulls to be no big deal. Though it came out nice. </div>
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(Taken by my eldest)<br />
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-63411493775987794762018-01-17T22:59:00.002-06:002018-01-17T23:09:06.245-06:00So, I heard Texas got snow...<br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">So...this happened...</span></span></span></div>
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWsnDCtrsvWQGkug787STKhl4MtA8qXUtocJhl8d9cJTaMCElpATb3MbDAiFe2LQPsbAukoQTnZxdxS0HTWCxVt3pElEy-JViQO6ZdcbJ8XpUYLAFX9q_1nWQDcMyQAcZBH-Hcw/s1600/HoustonWinterSlideJan2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWsnDCtrsvWQGkug787STKhl4MtA8qXUtocJhl8d9cJTaMCElpATb3MbDAiFe2LQPsbAukoQTnZxdxS0HTWCxVt3pElEy-JViQO6ZdcbJ8XpUYLAFX9q_1nWQDcMyQAcZBH-Hcw/s1600/HoustonWinterSlideJan2018.png" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">That picture (and the humor) was from a friend of mine in Houston...not from me, cause as you know if you read <a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com/2018/01/so-guess-whatim-back-in-california.html">my last post</a>, I'm not in Texas anymore.</span></span></span><br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">And NOW it decides to snow.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">You remember around 2008 - 2011 or so Texas </span></span></span><span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">got some
pretty good snow? (And, for any northerners dropping by, by "pretty good" I mean enough snow to scrape a snowman off your
yard if you try really, really hard)</span></span></span>. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Well, you may not but my kids sure do...and EVERY SINGLE YEAR SINCE any time the temperature would drop, they would look to the sky for white stuff, and get mad when none would come. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">So
now I'm in a place with mountains in short driving distance...but even
the mountains aren't getting snow (least not any that sticks long enough for us to get there.) Meanwhile, TEXAS is having tons of it (and
by tons, I mean...ah, well, um....SOME). It's like the state is blowing snowy
zerberts at us!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Seriously, though I can't complain...it's like 75 degrees here. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Enjoy the snow ya'll!</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLsX6sW_483cOo4PZwLj9DabtEg1MyBIVT7kyMOBMmvopl2alH5u8kvjcfYIVA5DxjHl_Z6ktM-ZG4pm-ThqnpLMZUg4Rt8pTkR7v_REwOlXCdoj7SUKicmlsBM6mNcKNwRDheQ/s1600/2017-09-04+19.08.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLsX6sW_483cOo4PZwLj9DabtEg1MyBIVT7kyMOBMmvopl2alH5u8kvjcfYIVA5DxjHl_Z6ktM-ZG4pm-ThqnpLMZUg4Rt8pTkR7v_REwOlXCdoj7SUKicmlsBM6mNcKNwRDheQ/s400/2017-09-04+19.08.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-2943812975507254612017-08-01T11:54:00.000-05:002020-01-01T02:20:53.806-06:00I'm Back in California!So, I'm back in California now....and not just for a Vacation! This summer we packed up and moved to San Diego, my hubby's hometown, thanks to a new job. <br />
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I can not tell you how good it feels to be back. When my husband, who came earlier than us, picked us up at the airport and we got in the car and drove through the city with all the palm trees, stucco buildings, murals, HILLS, marinas, etc....I just wanted to scream for joy. I was HOME!<br />
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Don't get me wrong...I had grown to love where I lived, and I still dearly miss so many of the people there. So many people who had become like family. But the place itself, the geography, weather, etc.....it's never felt like home the way California does.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wkwC7Vt0hj5dR7BrUrzEpFJaulB_Qjc1LcGgRDPFiJLhNtaeta2N35tuqWMZnY3vJmpTuwEtE9uqIc4ifW45FbjZGt891lermDmC7ZQn8_BXq1fS0xFyC_wV3S-xWzyaSM_V3Q/s1600/1sd490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="490" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wkwC7Vt0hj5dR7BrUrzEpFJaulB_Qjc1LcGgRDPFiJLhNtaeta2N35tuqWMZnY3vJmpTuwEtE9uqIc4ifW45FbjZGt891lermDmC7ZQn8_BXq1fS0xFyC_wV3S-xWzyaSM_V3Q/s320/1sd490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm even sleeping better. The whole time I've been in Texas I've struggled with insomnia (and in summer, when I can go to bed when I want, a creeping sleep schedule). I haven't had that trouble since I came back.<br />
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So, anyways, I'll be writing more soon about how I'm seeing California now after being away so long, and fun outings we've been doing, etc....but I just wanted to let you all know I'm back.<br />
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<br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-73508585847511398262017-04-17T18:07:00.002-05:002017-04-17T18:08:37.868-05:00In the Shape of TexasAh...Texas pride. It leads to <a href="http://texifornia.blogspot.com/search/label/Randomly%20Spotted%20Texas%20Pride">Texas shaped everything</a>. Found a couple more examples of this at our local HEB...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1HBKu0U6bF2FZ8mduNQBEK05uCWMZPGAb5dIQzsEFTOYIK-IGzHNCbQbnTDIgxQHzbdeNSLBpjUzZEPPXuIZZAGrwuE-y_FdzjD-78duf252U6rrYzDPemfVERFWC_TZ52330g/s1600/2017-03-30+17.48.46c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1HBKu0U6bF2FZ8mduNQBEK05uCWMZPGAb5dIQzsEFTOYIK-IGzHNCbQbnTDIgxQHzbdeNSLBpjUzZEPPXuIZZAGrwuE-y_FdzjD-78duf252U6rrYzDPemfVERFWC_TZ52330g/s1600/2017-03-30+17.48.46c.jpg" /></a></div>
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A texas griddle</div>
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And texas cast iron skillets!</div>
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Ah man...</div>
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This is Texas</div>
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-5711585758838755422016-12-31T22:02:00.002-06:002016-12-31T22:02:44.765-06:00Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8es-BHXYRC10_jigkmd9gz5_p-rnqjG9ETsruimc0xnMq6eIed837aVuXqZTSfNhkLcomYfu3mvLGq3Qqq8X8vjJiFiP22CKNWyZFeFcHx_8popD38WskCOeUNWfnkEjo4a3J/s1600/Vintage-Church-Window-Image-GraphicsFairy-827x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8es-BHXYRC10_jigkmd9gz5_p-rnqjG9ETsruimc0xnMq6eIed837aVuXqZTSfNhkLcomYfu3mvLGq3Qqq8X8vjJiFiP22CKNWyZFeFcHx_8popD38WskCOeUNWfnkEjo4a3J/s320/Vintage-Church-Window-Image-GraphicsFairy-827x1024.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ring Out, Wild Bells </span></b></div>
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by Alfred, Lord Tennyson</div>
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Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,<br />
The flying cloud, the frosty light;<br />
The year is dying in the night;<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.</span></div>
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Ring out the old, ring in the new,<br />
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:<br />
The year is going, let him go;<br />
Ring out the false, ring in the true.<br />
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Ring out the grief that saps the mind,<br />
For those that here we see no more,<br />
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,<br />
Ring in redress to all mankind.<br />
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Ring out a slowly dying cause,<br />
And ancient forms of party strife;<br />
Ring in the nobler modes of life,<br />
With sweeter manners, purer laws.<br />
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Ring out the want, the care, the sin,<br />
The faithless coldness of the times;<br />
Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes,<br />
But ring the fuller minstrel in.<br />
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Ring out false pride in place and blood,<br />
The civic slander and the spite;<br />
Ring in the love of truth and right,<br />
Ring in the common love of good.<br />
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Ring out old shapes of foul disease,<br />
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;<br />
Ring out the thousand wars of old,<br />
Ring in the thousand years of peace.<br />
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Ring in the valiant man and free,<br />
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;<br />
Ring out the darkness of the land,<br />
Ring in the Christ that is to be.<br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Happy New Year!!</b></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Thanks to <a href="http://thegraphicsfairy.com/beautiful-vintage-church-window-image-doves/">Graphics Fairy </a> </span></i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #45818e;">for the Bells Illustration </span></span> </span></i></span></div>
Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-77356049767521057592016-11-26T14:08:00.001-06:002016-12-05T09:09:03.161-06:00Texas Christmas Gifts - On SaleCheck out this fun <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/a_texas_christmas_list-119858480015169832?rf=238984407003792011">Texas Christmas Collection</a> (you can see just a little bit of it below) by various Zazzle artists. On Cyber Monday use coupon code <b>CYBERMONRTRN</b> for 70% off cards and invitations, 50% off gift tags and labels, 40% off ornaments, and 20% off stockings! <br />
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/a_texas_christmas_list-119858480015169832?rf=238984407003792011" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnDPjlXbmWJO14SC9l_yVo31OCElpnoYgwOAZv0REz7C-Ji6himM8nmOSBGg3GlNYSivfbyRtx6H_HInLtbOaHUavS8WGpOrUEmIJAOujIvmfGv-6dI6lkztVuke8LM9Y0nrKnA/s1600/a_texas_christmas_list_119858480015169832-r_zruem_kzii0_825.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-41565222867908357812016-10-29T19:40:00.003-05:002017-01-06T09:45:08.499-06:00Butterfly SightingsI love "fall" in Texas. It really is sort of like spring. I saw SO MANY BUTTERFLIES on
our lantana bush this week (the one nature planted outside our front door several
summers ago). Here's my son trying to lure one on to onto a flower we
cut. That one didn't take his bait, but another did...a little brown
jet like butterfly I didn't get a picture of, which I think was a <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.butterfliesandmoths.org%2Fspecies%2FPompeius-verna&h=VAQEk8RUM" target="_blank">Little Glassywing</a>.<br />
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There
were 6 types of butterflies that came to visit all on one day (the ones shown here and also a Monarch, a little Yellow Butterfly, and lots if <a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.butterfliesandmoths.org%2Fspecies%2FPompeius-verna&h=VAQEk8RUM" target="_blank">Little Glassywings</a>). I had never seen
some of them before, but with the help of some online friends we found the names
for most of them...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpPjBjvBSzDbtuZhDLN0aS5fzXIyIwfrX_7MTp-8OdG-PKyKd6FoiRhMum2idadM6TevCUBM9bbyVQekuFZqxqXcSj4lcmjSL0j7f2Lmus1daKQEEClEOCbTeSN-w9AXqATcl/s1600/brown480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpPjBjvBSzDbtuZhDLN0aS5fzXIyIwfrX_7MTp-8OdG-PKyKd6FoiRhMum2idadM6TevCUBM9bbyVQekuFZqxqXcSj4lcmjSL0j7f2Lmus1daKQEEClEOCbTeSN-w9AXqATcl/s1600/brown480.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Tawny Emperor</i></span></div>
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These brown butterflies are a frequent visitor to my yard.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YDmFIdxJleCjGbggrHV3hDSHUwft36aKoaigVvz0KVIYgsUBM6iIa03esgh8GJkArYDzSU2qWMeP_9mlFXKZUqCTmMgoDDWknlWlfLRb4zOt33rAnOk8KNyHYZfOAVVGbXbZ/s1600/orange480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YDmFIdxJleCjGbggrHV3hDSHUwft36aKoaigVvz0KVIYgsUBM6iIa03esgh8GJkArYDzSU2qWMeP_9mlFXKZUqCTmMgoDDWknlWlfLRb4zOt33rAnOk8KNyHYZfOAVVGbXbZ/s400/orange480.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<i>Gulf Fritillary</i></div>
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This is Gulf Fritillary...<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207621424193170&set=p.10207621424193170&type=3&theater" target="_blank">a male one</a>,
to be specific (the people in my local garden forum are
amazing...that's the only reason I know this). These have been in my
garden many times before, but I just now learned their names. Isn't
"Fritillary" the best name for a butterfly? Sounds positively
Victorian.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFHHw8hYdqRpR8ZUmm3z-VHDvE6ZxATwpxFy-Nbe-My7yicFA6Zk6HGMwgup7Z6ELJ_8IsgwRBVzxugC7_h9RXCMv6U7y9ziRu8kKtsQ14LQvFGCKt5lKkHnS8ieLTatE_3xp/s1600/Yellow480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFHHw8hYdqRpR8ZUmm3z-VHDvE6ZxATwpxFy-Nbe-My7yicFA6Zk6HGMwgup7Z6ELJ_8IsgwRBVzxugC7_h9RXCMv6U7y9ziRu8kKtsQ14LQvFGCKt5lKkHnS8ieLTatE_3xp/s400/Yellow480.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Giant Swallowtail</i></span></div>
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The
caterpillars from these beauties LOVE my dill and parsley, and are
just as fascinating to watch as they are in butterfly form.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpe8_JvIHbJ-TuNsAC_rDgP9fNAUBEbyPDEzIJ4gFx61de9slYi9LQQVqudwBJEgr3_yGPl6PLlrMssQyNymZw3Na6MM7cUu4rFx9Yfcu6DYJqZCy7_i9iNnkKp0EJuQJnj7O/s1600/blueblacknostreet480.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpe8_JvIHbJ-TuNsAC_rDgP9fNAUBEbyPDEzIJ4gFx61de9slYi9LQQVqudwBJEgr3_yGPl6PLlrMssQyNymZw3Na6MM7cUu4rFx9Yfcu6DYJqZCy7_i9iNnkKp0EJuQJnj7O/s400/blueblacknostreet480.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i>Pipvine Swallowtail</i></span></div>
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But
this blue/black stunner stole the show. What a beauty! She was
always in motion so it was hard to get a good picture of her, though I
sure tried. And every time she moved she shimmered! I had never seen
this type before, but several have visited since.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oz_P69FgsShKgYQGbKoTADWuBx4VBjNmqF2E1pHnsdLCBsRr68EoHPquAksIe5BKVrX1XMg53eSSb-rmo5sezh1WAl9oCyq-j6bvGo8TBL52J0BjKv6FFR4VK6z_TaT75ZbS/s1600/BlueBlackANDspider1000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Oz_P69FgsShKgYQGbKoTADWuBx4VBjNmqF2E1pHnsdLCBsRr68EoHPquAksIe5BKVrX1XMg53eSSb-rmo5sezh1WAl9oCyq-j6bvGo8TBL52J0BjKv6FFR4VK6z_TaT75ZbS/s1600/BlueBlackANDspider1000.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's
a picture of her in flight. I didn't realize when I took the picture
that this butterfly nearly became dinner. Can you find the giant green
spider in this picture?<br />
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No? Keep scrolling...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIaIEjF8AXQhMK35wxXC_4ywtcR_H1lFlosrD3BI24NESWXO-471APP7guqkyWktdIAQikAmKekwvJAaPG6tnE_TNczY7ab1m4HGgABXMD8sbAzCjlDrM7HHY2wZM_bXQN5sj/s1600/BlueBlackANDspider1000red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIaIEjF8AXQhMK35wxXC_4ywtcR_H1lFlosrD3BI24NESWXO-471APP7guqkyWktdIAQikAmKekwvJAaPG6tnE_TNczY7ab1m4HGgABXMD8sbAzCjlDrM7HHY2wZM_bXQN5sj/s1600/BlueBlackANDspider1000red.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Still have trouble seeing it? Keep scrolling...<b>but warning, it's creepier up close</b>. If you do not like spiders you will want to skip this (there's no more butterfly pics).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHONiEzTQiy0M7wKTR-WVQGdC3RBjIefGJrMUfqykaoCT-CtdZEyDmMVSoqjjp9ohVT3qDt8ljpiCdPyxYqlecTyRujI4u8Pwq_bTw-zrXppbe8gqKb2KCg20ByidYTx69_UhW/s1600/GreenLynxSpider.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHONiEzTQiy0M7wKTR-WVQGdC3RBjIefGJrMUfqykaoCT-CtdZEyDmMVSoqjjp9ohVT3qDt8ljpiCdPyxYqlecTyRujI4u8Pwq_bTw-zrXppbe8gqKb2KCg20ByidYTx69_UhW/s320/GreenLynxSpider.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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This
is a Green Lynx Spider, sitting on it's egg sack, which looks pretty
close to hatching (you can see all the little spiderlings). The mother, like the other one I've seen, was over an inch long.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/flower%20friday?max-results=3" target="_blank"><img alt="Flower Friday" border="0" height="125" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eOnOSu62J_k/VVj3CeFwO4I/AAAAAAAAAtI/Vlxsq3CTUO0/s125-no/125x125-flower-friday.jpg" width="125" /></a><center>
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-20639414876978088482016-04-08T18:46:00.000-05:002016-06-03T21:51:04.937-05:00Texas and California GiveawaysFound some local giveaways in California and Texas....<br />
<br />
<b>Texas Giveaways</b><br />
<br />
(6/6) <a href="http://www.flandersfamily.info/web/giveaway-4-free-tickets-to-brickuniverse-expo-in-plano/">Brick Universe Lego Fan Expo Tickets</a> (Plano, TX - June 11-12)<br />
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(6/13) <a href="http://freefuninaustin.com/2016/06/giveaway-wild-west-week-h-e-b-center-cedar-park/">Wild West Week Cedar Park Rodeo Tickets</a> (Cedar Park, TX - June 17 - 19)<br />
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(6/15) Thinkery Camps (Austin, TX) <br />
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<b>California Giveaways </b><br />
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(5/30) <a href="http://highway1discoveryroute.com/together-again/">$3000 Lodging + $2000 food in California</a> <br />
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If you know of any others, please share them and I'll add them too! Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-29202038058033178072016-03-23T09:17:00.001-06:002016-03-23T09:42:01.327-06:00Guest Post by Donna Fitzgerald: My Issues With Texas Roadways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVEQdowjLmaPt1QnvtRREqTmRQq336K9m3jXPYyLB78ooq0cdzNdp_P8k2N82oIjH7MX8-JtkAZdjjG56fdGLz_QmLKYz_9LWNHcTRjJgiZR31x4WacOzYyXTMMq9xYDATc8HNw/s1600/traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVEQdowjLmaPt1QnvtRREqTmRQq336K9m3jXPYyLB78ooq0cdzNdp_P8k2N82oIjH7MX8-JtkAZdjjG56fdGLz_QmLKYz_9LWNHcTRjJgiZR31x4WacOzYyXTMMq9xYDATc8HNw/s400/traffic.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I’ve driven 1-35 East, in and around Dallas enough times that some of my experiences were as bad as a “normal” day in Los Angeles traffic. Anyone that’s been stuck in big Texan congestion (particularly during a rare morning rain storm) will agree that traffic congestion is a major danger on Texas roadways. It’s frustrating and confusing and when I’ve brought it up to native Texans, the response is always the same, “It’s always been this way!” What’s worse is that the average driver spends up to 52 hours being stuck in traffic. That’s many people’s PTO!<br />
<br />
<br />
So, okay, it’s been this way for a long time--to be more accurate, at least 40 years. The major population boom of over 100% is a main culprit for traffic congestion; that and the fact that extra roads couldn’t be built quickly enough to accommodate such an influx of residents. Even though TxDOT has a <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2016/01/27/commissioner-unveils-anti-congestion-initiative/">plan to reduce the congestion</a> in some of the biggest cities, I don’t see Texas roadways becoming any less dangerous until other changes are made, too.<br />
<br />
<b>The Problem with Texting</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kjY2McAEJ_htBpro8TwHlCYavj38MdzWadPRUs5JmBo7mX9vSvTWiGQcNENkrlLcpChyEoACPG6twgHo3p9EG_Or2U-qOVRes6MAGoX0w7TWuY6n8gNH9AAECB5KrEDxgGuOdA/s1600/driving-844132_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kjY2McAEJ_htBpro8TwHlCYavj38MdzWadPRUs5JmBo7mX9vSvTWiGQcNENkrlLcpChyEoACPG6twgHo3p9EG_Or2U-qOVRes6MAGoX0w7TWuY6n8gNH9AAECB5KrEDxgGuOdA/s320/driving-844132_640.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I hate texting and driving and I’m bothered that Texas is slow to get on board with putting a texting and driving ban on the whole state. I’m even more disturbed that it’s not illegal to <a href="http://www.bobrichardsonlawfirm.com/texas-troubles/">text and drive</a> in major cities like Dallas. While a number of <a href="http://www.txdot.gov/driver/laws/cellphones.html">cities have taken on this issue</a>, currently, the only state-wide laws prohibiting texting and driving includes bus drivers (when a passenger is 17 or younger is present), drivers in school crossing zones, and intermediate license holders for the first year. At least I don’t have to worry about my youngest daughter crossing in a school zone, right? When I’ve voiced my opinion to some, I am simply reminded, “If you don’t like it, don’t do it”, but it’s hard to ignore.<br />
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I used to text and drive and it was a hard habit to break, but after having one too many close calls and suddenly realizing I was a role model for my soon-to-be-licensed daughter, I knew I had to change. While my husband is perfectly content to turn off his phone and put it in the glovebox, I wasn’t going to risk the temptation and had an ignition interlock device installed in our car (to each their own, right?). Technically, we can still text and drive, especially to pass the time during gridlock (like every other driver), but as a family, we’ve pledged not to.<br />
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When my daughter got her license, we wrote up a driving contract and she signed a pledge not to text and drive, even when or if it becomes legal for her. Additionally, she downloaded a texting prevention app on her phone and surprisingly, she’s inspired many of her friends to do the same.<br />
The Congestion Issue<br />
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I know that fixing a major congestion issue will take some time and even with the money to pay for it, I shudder at the thought of more construction and re-routing already problematic traffic. While texting and driving is a significant and noticeable issue during gridlock, I’ve also noticed many motorists engaging in a handful of distractions. One morning, I spotted my neighbor shaving his face behind the wheel: He saw me and smiled sheepishly.<br />
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Fortunately, my daily schedule is flexible and I can often plan my trips around the worst times of congestion. In order to plan my day and know what to expect, I check out the <a href="http://drivetexas.org/#/7/32.340/-99.500?future=false">Texas Highway Conditions</a> map on a daily basis. My daughter makes fun of me, but without my “heads up” she wouldn’t know what to expect either.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><b>This guest post was written by the author, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><b>and fellow Texifornian, Donna Fitzgerald.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Pictures by <a href="http://www.pixabay.com/">Pixabay</a></i> </span></span>
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Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29184127.post-65876901795382079552016-02-29T09:39:00.000-06:002017-01-06T09:37:25.211-06:00Railroad Commissioner Websites Are Comedy Gold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozzDAoNjoj9s392MrzidJe7k65IFPvMxPaXqeGqql6w5tsRozlUHcwUg4TWltUOKkSxopKnix2c5u15C9NxswzFr8pHnV8aGpdD-_rRcR470mT9BmBPT16RCZCQgmr-AwcWGL2g/s1600/NOtrains.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozzDAoNjoj9s392MrzidJe7k65IFPvMxPaXqeGqql6w5tsRozlUHcwUg4TWltUOKkSxopKnix2c5u15C9NxswzFr8pHnV8aGpdD-_rRcR470mT9BmBPT16RCZCQgmr-AwcWGL2g/s320/NOtrains.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
I've been researching republican primary candidates, and oh my word,
reading Railroad Commissioner candidates' websites is comedy gold...<br />
<br />
Take Doug Jeffrey's website...one whole paragraph and a link to his
facebook page is the whole thing. No mentions of issues...just a bio
with this gem to convince us he has experience in the oil industry
(which is what Railroad Commissioner regulates...that and gas, but
ironically, not railroads): <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Doug has continued his family's
tradition of raising cattle and has active investments in the oil and
gas industry." </blockquote>
Like, "I invest in oil companies" is the closest thing
he has to experience...all grouped in there in a sentence about his
cattle experience, like that's just as relevant. Nice. <br />
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Or
try this one by John Greytok (who's site overall isn't too bad...at least
it has some content, this quote not withstanding)....<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...in 1994, outraged over the arrogance of the Clinton White House,
Greytok filed suit against Bill Clinton in a Texas federal district
court." </blockquote>
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And that was ALL it said about that. So, was the suit
about... Clinton's arrogance? I mean really, cause he didn't say WHY he sued him, other than that. I can just picture that day
in the courtroom...as John Greytok stands in front of the court and in a booming voice says, "I file this suit over the egregiously pompous arrogance
perpetrated by President Clinton."<br />
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<br />
Ron Hale does talk about
issues a little...but someone please get this man a copy-editor. He has
a whole line of "bullet points" all formatted like this....<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Conservative Principles I plan to regulate on the basis of traditional
values, limited state and federal government involvement, individual
liberty, and free market principles.</blockquote>
Wow, that's new...this is the
first Republican I've heard of that wants to regulate conservative
principals. Seriously Hale, advice from a former English major...you
need a dash or a colon or some <b>bolding</b> or something in there. Really,
pay some college student $20 to edit your site...it's worth it).*<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> *Yeah, yeah, I know I'm going to be creamed for that cause I probably
have a few errors in this myself. Granted, I'm not expecting anyone to
vote for me though.</i></span><br />
<br />
So, who did I decide on? Someone
who doesn't have a website at all (at least not one I can find)...which usually would
be a pretty swift knock against him, but nearly every article on the
race I could find seemed to be endorsing him, and their reasoning seemed sound. The <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20160219-cory-troiani-a-texas-railroad-commission-that-treats-regulated-companies-as-clients.ece">Dallas News</a>, <a href="http://www.theeagle.com/opinion/editorials/recommendations-for-railroad-commission/article_420b8949-d314-568d-a73f-94d8c45b31df.html">The Eagle</a>, <a href="http://www.caller.com/opinion/editorials/gop-its-l-a-n-c-e-for-dems-burnam-2bd23280-51c1-37cc-e053-0100007f960e-368875311.html">Corpus Christy Caller Times</a>
and <a href="http://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/columns/bill_whitaker/bill-whitaker-mixing-oil-and-gas-with-blasts-of-hot/article_557bc493-2b79-5124-83bd-ad04b81a9576.html">Waco Tribune</a> all endorse the geologist and current commission employee Lance Christian (not to be confused with Wayne Christian,
also running, who seemed to get some pretty hearty UN-endorsements). <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/2016/02/20/geoscientists-latest-experiment-running-railroad-c/">The Texas Tribune</a> also had a very detailed and mostly positive article about Lance, though it wasn't an official endorsement. And the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/recommendations/article/For-Railroad-Commission-6827658.php">Houston Chronicle</a> suggests a vote for EITHER Lance Christian OR John Greytok. <br />
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Below are some quotes from those endorsements...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>For Lance Christian</b> </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Of all the candidates, Lance Christian not only is the most
knowledgeable about the commission, but wants to use that knowledge to
help industry thrive responsibly. He's a geologist working for the
commission — not just a geologist but one versed in hydrology. His
science background and his knowledge of the inner workings of the agency
would be uncommon assets to the commission. He knows better than the
others which rules work and which don't.<a href="http://www.caller.com/opinion/editorials/gop-its-l-a-n-c-e-for-dems-burnam-2bd23280-51c1-37cc-e053-0100007f960e-368875311.html">-Corpus Christy Caller Times</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Unlike many of the politicians in this race, he keeps a focus on the
straight and narrow duties of the commission: preserving the safety of
Texans and our environment, and fostering the oil and gas industry. But
maybe he doesn't go for the political pot-shots because Christian can
actually talk about the policy and science that consumes most of the
day-to-day duties of the commission.<br />
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/recommendations/article/For-Railroad-Commission-6827658.php">- Houston Chronicle</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[Lance Christian is] likely to bring a measured, reasoned voice to difficult discussions
about energy and environmental concerns. For example, Christian cited a
need to review regulations to help the embattled oil and gas industry,
including revamping a bond structure to allow small operators greater
financial flexibility in plugging dormant wells. He also said the
commission needs to carefully address harmful environmental emissions
without hurting a struggling industry. This is a reasonable, balanced
approach.<br />
<a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20160219-cory-troiani-a-texas-railroad-commission-that-treats-regulated-companies-as-clients.ece">- Dallas News</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For the record, the only candidate who stood out of the Texas Railroad
Commission wannabes assembled...was Lance Christian, a
low-key, 44-year-old geologist who works for the commission. He talked
about things like horizontal drilling, injection wells and protecting
groundwater. In short, he knew what he was talking about and didn’t feel
the need to proclaim himself pro-Israel or pro-gun. <br />
- <a href="http://www.wacotrib.com/opinion/columns/bill_whitaker/bill-whitaker-mixing-oil-and-gas-with-blasts-of-hot/article_557bc493-2b79-5124-83bd-ad04b81a9576.html">Waco Tribune</a> </blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> For John Greytok</b></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Greytok has legal expertise. With a law degree from the University of
Texas at Austin School of Law, Greytok has served as a Special Assistant
Attorney General for the state of Texas and as a briefing attorney to
the chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. He
understands the legal aspects of the commission's rulemaking and is also
endorsed by former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.<br />
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/recommendations/article/For-Railroad-Commission-6827658.php">- Houston Chronical</a> </blockquote>
<br />
Anyways, also along the way I found some seemingly non-biased sources for info. This article lists <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/eagle-ford-shale-insight/2016/02/memorable-quotes-from-railroad-commission-forum.html">quotes from a candidate forum</a> (which unfortunately I couldn't find the full transcript for.). While the Dallas Morning News itself isn't un-biased, their <a href="http://c3.thevoterguide.org/v/dallas16/build.do">voter's guide</a> seems to consist of verbatim answers to questions from the candidates, so offers a good overview without their own slant to it. There was also a <a href="http://www.mrt.com/business/oil/top_stories/article_b2c0e88a-d115-11e5-a316-1f2e2143d02c.html">Q&A session</a> I found, but Lance Christian wasn't included (he came into the race late, so maybe that's why).<br />
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<br />Galehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119498262301807853noreply@blogger.com0