happy sunday

today i spent my easter afternoon with my mamacita at the ranch. she spoke of her delight in discovering new saplings and fresh blooms. she said that gardens have the power to heal and i think she's right. i know i always feel better after a good landscaping project. aaahh...my mamacita, i do admire her strength and grace.

we didn't see any easter bunnies today but LOOK what we found under the house. 3 kittens!



she still lights a candle for President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush.

This brings me to one of my favorite movie quotes.
Little Women.
Here we go:

Jo March: I find it poor logic to say that because women are good, women should vote. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country.
Mr. Mayer: You should have been a lawyer, Miss March.
Jo March: I should have been a great many things, Mr. Mayer.

she calls him perico.

mom, you are full of surprises.

i love this old shed.

for lunch we had arroz con nopalitos



...and watermelon from the driscoll fruit stand for dessert.

serious multitasker



a replenishing weekend has ended.  I like both ends of the spectrum--the thrill of adventure and the comfort of routine and feeling settled. back to work we go and some travel ahead.

i leave you with this... be nice. the world is a small town.

The Road Not Taken

the road to school. i grew up just down this county road. i love that i still have my familia at the ranch and that i now live not to far away.. in Corpus Christi.


Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

i wonder if the gym floor at the jr. high still has this design?

REMEMBERING ELEMENTARY & JR HIGH SCHOOL - Driscoll Elementary and Jr. High held some interesting memories. i liked my teachers. mrs. White was my favorite. she made me feel better about not knowing how to speak English very well. her husband was the Principal of the school and our basketball coach. we had some good times us Driscoll Dragons. undefeated! we lived and breathed basketball.

puppies and birds. it's what we love. mom has a new friend and she is o sooooo happy about it.

i am beyond words. my boss is calendars chair. the committee through which all major pieces of legislation must flow. the appointment puts him at the forefront of setting the legislative agenda for the Texas legislature. “I am pleased to appoint Rep. Hunter as chair of the House Committee on Calendars, which plays an integral role in shepherding critical legislation through the House and Senate. I know Todd will serve our body well in this role, while continuing to make many other significant contributions to the House in redistricting and other matters that are important to our state.” said Speaker Straus. this is huge for the coastal bend. congrats rep. hunter!!!

team todd. my familia..

i'll write about this after session oh..and happy birthday john michael!



you are always there for me. thanks.

mr. granado and i had a very nice Valentine’s Day. this day is as important as our anniversary. he took me out for a special dinner. so the service wasn't that great. who cares.. all that matters is that we were together and it was a sweet night. thanks hunny. i love you.

he got a bath before i left for session this week. much needed. art, don't let him eat the rest of my cookies. he can reach them. i saw him..

friendship

art and i went to see the King's Speech last night. i recommend it highly. it's about faith, courage and friendship. we have people like this in our lives. a best friend. it's a grade A movie. a must see!

Although the film involves a man overcoming a serious disability, it is neither triumphalist nor sentimental. Its themes are courage (where it comes from, how it is used), responsibility, and the necessity to place duty above personal pleasure or contentment. ~movie review

“The King’s Speech” is a remarkable movie about a remarkable friendship. It honors the audience’s intelligence, which makes it a double rarity.~By Peter Rainer, Film critic

new year's resolution: eat more cake!





ok!

 

the saga of a dirty dog: little boy will not stay clean. he is the only one of the bunch that somehow ends up in trouble each and every day for creating a mess. this week he broke into the dog food bag. dog food all over the floor, mess all over the floor and well... lots of other stuff all over the floor. little boy!!!

i'm in an interesting place right now. ridiculously busy and juggling a mess of balls, and at the same time in a thankful place. yes, i said it. a thankful place. it's a real place and the more i stay the more i see. i walk it's paths and meet it's people and i have settled in and claimed residence.  week one of session was interesting, exciting, busy and so much more... it certainly is a community here and i am thankful to work beside a great leader, smart staff and a unified delegation. coach phil jackson of the chicago bulls said " the strength of the team is each individual member...the strength of each member is the team." i like that.

a recent event speech reminded me of this quote..."Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring - quite often the hard way." ~Pamela Dugdale



THE 36TH ANNUAL BEACH TO BAY RELAY MARATHON WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011. Get ready!  http://www.beachtobayrelay.com/



s' wonderful.

 



the ride to Austin was quiet but for the sounds of the Fugees and their rendition of “killing me softly with his song”. I cannot stop singing it.

and i arrive.
and unload.
and settle in.




i see you...



alfie is upset i'm leaving for a few days. yes, i will miss the wild herd of white fur around my legs as i make my way around the house. yes, i will miss that.

he makes me laugh every day.. still. i have been reminded so much these past couple of weeks of just how wonderfully blessed we are.



i work for the best and with the best. no doubt. oh, we've got a nice rest of the week ahead. to be cont..



Behold...the magic of fire brings friends together.



we always end up outside in front of this big fire place at carol's house. it seems to call on us..




with my buddy trey and me looking all geisha girl like. lol!




the fella in the middle is a giant -- but he is our giant!




cool life lovers.




the hilliards.




perhaps a bucket list discussion?




it's fun to hug.




these two cannot take a bad picture.





and so we made new memories for christmas...

 

Happy Birthday to our Marriage.



two years ago today Art and I tied the knot in front of our family and friends. thanks to all those of you who had a part in our togetherness. much love. it sure has been an adventure and I’m sure looking forward to what year 3 has in store for us! bring it!



showstopper chocolate cake of my dreams.

i gained new smile wrinkles this day.





so, last night i had a stress relief spa night because well..i needed it.





my sister in law gave us this unique nativity set for christmas. we love it!

Art can never finish his pizza. to go box..please!

scary.

and sleepy. i have to admit that my favorite part of the day is snuggling with this little one. he keeps my feet warm at night.

Let there be dance!











here we are dancing in our back yard after we tied the knot. i cannot believe it's going to be 2 years.

  







There is a French saying: "Love is the dawn of marriage, and marriage is the sunset of love."







i love that our neighborhood decorates for christmas. iwa display. just love living near this school and watching the kidos walk past my house.

 



more neighborhood cheer. much love to every home. thank you for being a part of our village.







down the street from my casita--a sweet display.



date night: italian dinner and a movie. why can't we stop working?