Happy Valentine's Day

Having Meghan and Sara over for dinner tonight.  We are planning ribs, potatoes and salad.  I made FROM SCRATCH I might add, "Mrs. Kelton's German Chocolate Cake." It's unlike a traditional German chocolate cake - no pecans or coconuts in the icing - it has coffee in the icing.  Wanted to celebrate with a special table setting for everyone!

The container of flowers was purchased from one of my on-line stores.  It's green metal
and I am happy with how it pulls the green out of the rug under the table.  

And as a bonus for viewing/updating what I've done at the house:

Added this coral quilt to the bed.  I like the color punch it's giving this winter.

Hope your day or weekend was filled with chocolate and flowers, with a swish of red everywhere!

THERESA

A Tree Grows in Prosper & a Ph.D

Larry was thrilled recently when his Christmas present finally arrived.  Yes, it was the end of January but that didn't matter.  The winter is a good time to plant a tree.

We had a flower bed made directly across from the patio and 3 den windows.  Right in the center the tree was planted.  It was a 45 gallon Eagleston Holly.  The Mockingbirds have already spotted the red berries.  We have dwarf nandinas, pansies and dusty miller planted.  The pansies will make way for some spring flowers later on.  We added stone edging to the back flower bed and added the same in the front beds.  We currently have pansies, dusty miller, and kale in the front with some daffodils yet to peak out of the ground.  Left to do - add 2 wire trellis to the back area against the fence for flowering vines this spring and plant caladiums in the front and back (probably May).

We love walking by the den windows and looking out to the back yard now.  I was interrupted while writing this post to help Larry hang his new bird feeder - thanks kids!

flower pot to the right is the wind gauge and rain gauge; the pot will be planted with a
flower of some kind in the spring.
Sure looks like winter - brown grass,, leafless trees by the creek

Side view of flower bed
There is a tree toward the street and one just behind my shadow on the other corner.

Photo taken from inside looking out.
Thanks to Carol's Bloomers of Anna, TX for the new view!

How do you jump from a new tree in your yard to a Ph.D?  Well, our son graduated from Texas A and M, College Station, TX, with his Ph.D. in Forestry this past December.  Just a few photos...

Dad and Mom are proud parents. The graduation regalia is impressive.

Son and his wife.

His sister as well as my other family members attended graduation.  Thanks
for your loving support of his achievement.

2014 was a busy, happy year.  Looking forward to 2015 and hoping to blog a little more than I have been.
As for the letter "J" - it would have been about our dog, Jasper.  Let's just say I will let that letter pass and leave it be in his memory.

THERESA

ICE

My husband and I just returned from an overnight stay at the Gaylord in Grapevine, TX, which included tickets to the "ICE" show featuring "Frosty the Snowman."

I have done two posts on "H" and it dawned on me last night that I have the perfect subject for "I" in "ICE."  As we southerns are prone to do, we want to be sure there is plenty of ice for our tea and other important drinks!  We artfully arrange dump the cubes in our glass and pour the drink.  Although one could say "ice" is not a play thing for the home, it is important:  (1) when the storm takes down the electricity and food is going to spoil; (2) when the party is about to begin and you forgot to get extra ice; (3) when you need an ice pak for an injury, etc.  Dallasites also fear ice - the kind that falls from the sky, usually overnight, prompting school cancellations and work delays.  Dallas will shut down when there's an ice storm.

If one can have a "fond" memory of ice, I remember going with my Daddy to the local ice house to purchase a block of ice.  Yes, a block of ice - one GIANT ice cube.  We would stand at the dock and listen for it to slide down the shoot to the end.  Then the workman would pick it up with big tongs and set it in the ice chest.  I imagine we were purchasing a block for his fishing trip or, MAYBE, for hand cranked ice cream.

But on the the Gaylord and ICE...  I didn't take photos within the show once I put on my gloves.  The temperature inside the show was 9 degrees to keep the ice from melting. Toward the end I slipped off one glove to be able to tap my phone for a few photos.  Enjoy.  We thought the Gaylord was beautiful and definitely festive.  There were a lot of families there using the opportunity for a beautiful backdrop for a Christmas card.

Standing in line.

Almost ready to "suit up" 

 Note these are colored blocks of ice

Toy soldier made of colored ice; note the size the blocks at the base (clear)

Visitor wearing the furnished coats

Angel

Huge nativity scene made of clear ice

Gaylord Atrium

Atrium - plenty of places to pose for a photo

Santa requires LARGE boots when he visits Texas

View from our 5th floor room.  To the left is an oil derrick lined in lights.  Below us
was the place to have your photo taken with Santa.  

At the Hickory Restaurant where we had dinner--tree made of wood sleds

Tree in background handing from ceiling.

View of atrium from elevator this morning

Perfect setting for getting into the Christmas spirit.  So glad we went!

Theresa