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Winter In Texas ~ 2010
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Winter Wonderland (4)
Tag: Texas
Addison Kaboom Town, Texas 2011 (1)
Kevin, Courtney, and I went with the kids and a stroller full of coolers, blankets, and towels from a parking garage to the Addison Circle, which leads to the entrance of Kaboom Town. Addison opens the gates around 4 or 5 pm. The earlier we arrive, the better our chances are of getting a decent spot. It was a very hot Independence Day weekend. So, we adults decided to pick a shaded spot under a couple of trees close to the water fountains and the bathrooms. Once our blankets were laid out, the girls wanted to play in the fountain and cool off. There was still plenty of time for the airshow and fireworks. By the time the sun is behind the horizon, the kids can rest and watch the shows. It didn’t take long before Sara was hungry and wanted to eat a sandwich. Thank goodness, we always bring our cooler with us. Katelynn rested with her Dad on the blanket for a little bit before she decided she was hungry, too.
… to be continued …
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (11)
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1) Peas; 2) Cucumber Blossom; 3) Pumpkin Blossom; 4) Avocado Plant
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Rosa ‘Knock Out’ Roses 🌹
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Flake Appreciation Day 2025
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Snowflakes are a subject of thought and appreciation on Flake Appreciation Day. The event is celebrated around December when snow begins to fall in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Snowflakes can be classified into one of 35 different shape groups based on their size and shape. When water vapor in the clouds condenses into ice crystals, snowflakes spontaneously appear in nature. Snowflakes’ shapes are influenced by elements such as dust, temperature, humidity, and air currents.
There are different numbers of water molecules in snowflakes, which cause them to form a crystal pattern. Due to diffuse reflection, snowflakes appear white, even though they are composed of clear ice. Snowflakes are usually studied by putting a chemical compound on a glass plate and allowing a flake to land on the plate. The chemical compound covers the snowflake and hardens. The snowflake leaves its shape behind after it melts.
The history of snowflakes was greatly influenced by Wilson Bentley. He was born in 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. His work is significant as he helped discover that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. He used a type of photography that uses microscopes called photomicrography to take pictures of 5,000 snowflakes. Bentley published articles and books about his findings and donated some of his photographs to the Smithsonian Institution. He was the world’s leading snowflake expert and was referred to as ‘The Snowflake Man’ until he died in 1931.
:https://nationaltoday.com/flake-appreciation-day/
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Christmas Season (Part III) 2008 – 2009
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2008
Since Kevin’s homemade Christmas tree got positive feedback, he installed it again in 2008. The same year, I decorated a Christmas wreath for our girls.
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2009
Sara’s 1st Christmas; She was still so tiny.
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… to be continued …
Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis)
The differential grasshopper is found throughout most of the United States, except for the northwest. Within its range, it is most often found in heavily weeded areas and grasslands, and even in vacant lots and other urban areas. This species is not migratory but can travel a few miles to search for food.
Winter Wonderland (3)
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Christmas 2009
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The Liberty By The Lake Fireworks In The Colony, Texas 2011
Liberty By The Lake 2011
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (10)
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1) Corn; 2) Snap Pea Blossom; 3) Sunflower; 4) Cucumber
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Golden Groundsel 🏵
Golden Groundsel (Packera obovata)
Christmas Season (Part II) 2006 – 2007
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2006
In the Christmas Season of 2006, Kevin, Katelynn, and I visited California. Since we celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Kevin’s grandparents in Anaheim, we stayed an extra day to go to Disneyland.
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2007
In December 2007, Kevin installed his first outdoor Christmas tree made of Christmas light chains. Everything was held up by a PVC pipe.
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… to be continued …
American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
The American flamingo is a large bird with long pink legs and webbed feet. The plumage is a distinctive pink, with black on the flight feathers (the long feathers at the tips of the wings). The bill is pink and white with a black tip. The plumage coloring comes from the carotene that is found in the food that is eaten, such as brine shrimp. They live in large shallow lakes, lagoons, and mud flats in the Caribbean Islands, northern South America, the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and the southern United States.
Winter Wonderland (2) ☃
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Winter In Texas (2008 – 2009)
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The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (9)
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1) Cucumber; 2) Sugar Snap Pea Blossom; 3) Green Beans; 4) Avocado
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Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Christmas Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005
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2003
Christmas 2003 was bittersweet. It was Katelynn’s first Christmas, but it was also our last Christmas in Germany.
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2004
In December 2004, we had a Dallas Holiday Wish Celebration. The Beach Boys had a concert, and even Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto came to visit and sing and dance in front of Dallas City Hall. I have it all on videotape footage and didn’t capture too many event photos.
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2005
In 2005, we bought our house in Texas. The same year, we celebrated Christmas/Yuletide in our new home.
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… to be continued …
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Although the Greater Roadrunner occurs throughout Texas, is well known, is the topic of much folklore, and is a very popular cartoon character, the only field research studies that have been conducted are in desert scrub or brush-grassland habitats in South Texas. As a popular, iconic, multicultural bird from prehistory to modern times, it is surprising that it was one of the last bird species to be given state protection because of the mistaken belief that roadrunners were a threat to declining quail populations.
:https://txtbba.tamu.edu/species-accounts/greater-roadrunner/
Winter Wonderland (1) ☃
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Winter in Texas (2004, 2007)
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Goodbye, November 2025!
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World Basketball Champions 2011: Dallas Mavericks
On June 12, 2011, the Dallas Mavericks won the Finals 4:2 against the Miami Heat in the Kaseya Center in Miami. Three days later, on June 16, 2011, Kevin and I went to Dallas and saw the Dallas Mavericks Parade. Unfortunately, we had too many people in front of us to capture decent photos of the players and the parade. The Dallas Mavericks team waited 31 years for this victory to become the World Champions in Basketball.
Later that month, Dirk went to our hometown, where he got his own parade and waved from the balcony of our Würzburg Residence. From 1984 to 1987, I went to the same school as Dirk. Here, Dirk was six when he started 1st grade. Who would have ever thought that this kid would win an NBA championship many years later?
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (8)
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1) Peas; 2) Avocado; 3) White Cabbage; 4) Tomato
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Narrowleaf Evening Primrose
Narrow-leaf Evening Primrose (Oenothera fruiticosa)
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (13)
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Autumn At A Texas Creek
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Thankful For My Dog Day 2025
Dogs are in the class of animals known as Caniformia, which is Latin for “dog-like.” This family’s other members, including raccoons, bears, foxes, and skunks, share dog-like traits. Some theories suggest that dogs evolved from wolves, while others propose that they evolved alongside wolves. Regardless of the circumstances, dogs have managed to warm the hearts of humans worldwide.
Initially, humans allowed dogs to pick the bones clean after they had hunted and enjoyed their meals. Dogs likely followed humans as scavengers at first, providing a service that they still give us today — protection. They grew tamer with each generation until they became permanent companions. From here, humans certainly domesticated both dogs and gray wolves, keeping them as pets. For more than 12,000 years, dogs have lived with humans as protectors, hunting companions, objects of scorn or adoration, and buddies.
Today, dogs are regarded differently in various regions of the world. In Western society, people highly value dogs because of their characteristics of friendship, protectiveness, loyalty, and affection. The United States and Europe have seen the care of dogs grow into a multibillion-dollar industry.
Dogs are also widely used in animal-assisted therapy. This type of treatment helps to relieve anxiety, pain, and depression in people with a range of mental or physical health problems. However, in some of the developing nations and many regions of Asia, dogs are not treated with love. They are used for protection, as beasts of burden, or even for food.
A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In May 2011 (3) ~ “Dinosaurs Unleashed”
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“Dinosaurs Unleashed” was a dinosaur expo at the Fort Worth Zoo in Spring/Summer 2011
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~ The End ~
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (7)
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This is how I envisioned my greenhouse before I even purchased it.
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Pink Fairy Duster Mimosa
Pink Fairy Duster Mimosa (Calliandra eriophylla)
Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus)
Koi fish are colorful, ornamental versions of the common carp. Although carp domestication is believed to have begun in China as early as the 4th century, modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan, where wild, colorful carp were caught, kept, and bred by rice farmers. There are now dozens of different color varieties of koi. Wild koi are native to the fresh bodies of water around the Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas. Domesticated in the 19th century, carp have now been introduced throughout the world. Koi are omnivorous feeders who will eat food found at all depths of water. The Japanese koi at the Kids’ Farm are fed a floating pellet, though they will also eat aquatic insects and algae.
National Princess Day 2025 👑
The first princess to come to our TV screens was Snow White in 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, this movie was also the first full-length traditional animation film as well as the earliest Disney animated feature film. When Xena: Warrior Princess debuted in 1995 and Mulan was released in 1998, they demonstrated that a princess can do more than wear a pretty dress. These two iconic women let children everywhere know that a princess can also be a strong and adventurous warrior. New wave princesses like Moana and Frozen’s Elsa show us that you can still be a princess while maintaining your independence.
We all grew up with animated and live-action princesses guiding us through life. When thinking of our favorite princesses, our minds instantly go to Disney. However, when it comes to National Princess Day, Disney had very little involvement in its inception. Nest Family Entertainment, a Texas-based entertainment company, teamed up with Rich Animation in 1994 to create the animated film The Swan Princess, a musical adaptation of Swan Lake. The studio wanted people of every age to have a day to celebrate like royalty, embodying the kindness and grace that we all associated with princesses at the time — and thus, National Princess Day was created.
The definition of a princess is constantly changing. From the 1930s until the 1990s, princesses were meant to be saved by a prince and live happily ever after. Nowadays, princesses create their own happily ever after, save the prince, and then put the prince squarely in the friend zone. Essentially, embodying a princess on National Princess Day is to represent what the kids call the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time).
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (12)
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Autumn in Texas 2012
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National Clarinet Day 2025
Several theories regarding the clarinet. It is said that the clarinet evolved from the ancient woodwind instrument named the ‘chalumeau.’ The chalumeau is also said to be the ancestor of the instrument ‘oboe.’ Even today, a clarinet’s lower register is referred to as chalumeau.
The first clarinet is said to have been developed in the 1700s by German musician Johann Christoph Denner. It was composed in the key of C. Clarinets are typically made in the key of B flat today. Other modifications in the clarinet followed in the 1800s. For example, the mouthpiece was designed to face backward, rather than forward, which allowed clarinetists to play the instrument more smoothly. This prototype was brought forward by German musician Heinrich Baermann.
Later on, thirteen keys were added to the clarinet, giving the clarinetists the ability to play the chromatic scale. Thereafter, many new versions and types of clarinets emerged depending on the key used, the size, or the range of registers. The clarinet was used as the voice for the wolf in the famous composition “Peter and the Wolf.”
The clarinet produces soothing music, which is why it is used in various genres of music, including rock, jazz, and folk. It is said that Mozart loved the sound of clarinets. Clarinets are also used widely in military orchestras. Clarinet Day was established to recognize this remarkable instrument, a favorite among musicians worldwide.
A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In May 2011 (2)
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Fort Worth Zoo 2011
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Wildlife In Our Photinia Tree 2013
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1) Western Honeybee; 2) Northern Cardinal Babies; 3) Juvenile Grackle
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Connecticut Field Pumpkin 🎃
Connecticut Field Pumpkin (Cucubita pepo)
Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)
Junonia coenia, known as the common buckeye or buckeye, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Its range covers much of North America and some of Central America, including most of the eastern half of the US, the lower to middle Midwest, the Southwest (including most of California), southern Canada, and Mexico. Its habitat is open areas with low vegetation and some bare ground. Its original ancestry has been traced to Africa, which then experienced divergence in Asia. The species Junonia grisea, the gray buckeye, is found west of the Rocky Mountains and was formerly a subspecies of Junonia coenia.
Caterpillars of these butterflies appear to prefer plants that produce iridoid glycosides, which are bitter compounds that release a hormone called gastrin that activates the digestive system (i.e., hunger); therefore, iridoid glycoside-producing plants stimulate and attract their appetites, particularly when found in plants like Plantago lanceolata. In fact, these metabolites may trigger oviposition behaviors in female butterflies so that descendant larval bodies may better incorporate iridoid glycosides. Iridoid glycoside metabolites appear to have a growth-stimulating effect on caterpillars but a growth-reducing effect on predators. Predators like ants, wasps, birds, and small animals prefer to feed on iridoid glycoside-poor caterpillars rather than iridoid glycoside-rich larvae, potentially due to these effects. Therefore, the immunity of Junonia coenia larvae to predators like ants appears to be strongly related to the concentration of iridoid glycosides sequestered in their bodies. However, excessive intake of iridoid glycosides in the diet can impair these larvae’s immune response and increase susceptibility to parasitism.
Adult butterflies feed on flowers with certain pollinator cues: yellow flowers that are ‘pre-change’, or flowers whose color has not been changed due to insect visitation or other factors. Common buckeye caterpillars feed in isolation rather than relying upon grouping behaviors. Vulnerability to the Junonia coenia densovirus is another concern for the survivorship of common buckeye larvae.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (11)
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Autumn at San Chester Park in Carrollton, Texas ~ 2012
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In May 2011 (1)
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Fort Worth Zoo 2011
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… to be continued …
Pea Blossoms In Our Spring Garden ~ 2013
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Texas Arbor Day 2025
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Arbor Day celebrates planting and nurturing trees, and all the ways trees enrich our lives and stabilize the environment. Historians trace Arbor Day’s origins back to the fifth century when Swiss villagers gathered to plant oak trees. Adults turned the event into a festival, and children were given treats as a reward for their help planting trees.
Arbor Day first appeared in the United States in 1872. J. Sterling Morton is credited with guiding this country’s first Arbor Day resolution through the Nebraska Legislature that year. Residents of the Great Plains recognized how much trees could do for them, and they enthusiastically embraced Morton’s vision.
President Theodore Roosevelt was a strong supporter of Arbor Day. Early in the 20th century, it became clear that the nation’s forests were being exhausted by cut-out-and-get-out timber harvesting. The science of forest management was emerging, and the government was moving to suppress wildfires and plant trees. Roosevelt sent a letter to the children of the United States in which he wrote, “A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as hopeless.”
In Texas, Arbor Day first appeared in Temple on Feb. 22, 1889. W. Goodrich Jones led the citizens of Temple in a mass meeting to call for a tree-planting campaign along the city’s streets. One year later, the first statewide observance of Arbor Day was held in Austin. Through the efforts of Sen. George Tyler of Belton, Feb. 22 was designated by law as Arbor Day to encourage planting trees in the state.
After the original Texas Arbor Day law expired, the state continued to observe Arbor Day by proclamation of the governor, usually on George Washington’s birthday. In 1949, the Texas Legislature adopted a resolution designating the third Friday in January as Texas Arbor Day.
In 1989, the Legislature passed a resolution moving Texas Arbor Day to the last Friday in April to align with the traditionally observed national Arbor Day. Today, the official Texas Arbor Day is held on the first Friday in November. Still, thanks to the state’s diversity, Arbor Day can be celebrated in Texas communities at any time during the fall and winter planting season.
:https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2022/10/arbor-day
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Yellow Hibiscus (Hawaiian State Flower)🌺
Yellow Hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (10)
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Autumn at The Colony Nature Trail, Texas 2012
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World Ballet Day 2025
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World Ballet Day was first celebrated on October 1, 2014. On this special day, top ballet companies worldwide stream live videos over six continents, showcasing their behind-the-scenes preparations, rehearsals, and dance classes. The main companies that contribute to the event are the Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, San Francisco Ballet, and Royal Swedish Ballet.
The history of ballet dates back to the 15th century in Italy and France. The dance was often performed by noblemen and women in the royal courts. However, the early form of ballet, known as ‘ballet de cour,’ included not only dancing but music, poetry, décor, and costume. Catherine de Medici, wife of King Henry II of France, developed this elaborate form of ballet.
The year 1681 witnessed the transition of ballet from the royal courts to the stage, where it was incorporated with operas, especially in France. In the 1700s, a French ballet master revolutionized this ballet-opera trend, advocating that ballet deserved to stand on its own as a recognized genre. This led to the creation of yet another form of ballet, known as the ‘ballet d’action’. This form involved expressive and dramatic movements used to tell stories through dance.
In the 19th century, ballet gradually evolved, as classical techniques such as pointe work, the precision of movement, and turnout developed in Russia. It was during this period that the classical “Swan Lake,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “The Nutcracker” were created.
Today, ballet takes many forms and styles, with the rules a little less rigid than they were in the past. Costumes vary based on creativity, and classical music is no longer the mandatory genre of music it is performed to. It has also given life to new dance forms, such as contemporary, lyrical, modern, and neo-classical dance.
: https://nationaltoday.com/world-ballet-day/
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Kids Colony II Playground (Phase I), The Colony, Texas 2011
In 1993, residents and businesses in The Colony came together to build a playground. There was lots of planning, fundraising, scheduling, and building – all done by volunteers! This little town in Texas made a great effort, and the result was a community-built playground named Kids’ Colony. The years and hot Texas sun took their toll on the expansive wooden structures, and the process of replacing the beloved playground began. In 2011, Phase I of the rebuild of Kids’ Colony was completed, adding a nature-themed play structure, pavilion, picnic tables, and benches.
National Pepper Month 2025 🌶
There are hundreds of different ways to enjoy these crunchy, appetizing fruits. Yes, you heard me right. Peppers are fruits, not vegetables, because of the seeds they contain. Either way, though, they can be enjoyed with both sweet and salty meals and are incredibly healthy for you. Peppers are related to chili peppers (obviously), tomatoes, and breadfruit, all of which are native to Central and South America. They come in a variety of beautiful, vibrant colors like bright red, green, yellow, and orange, and have a crunchy, satisfying texture.
: https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/november/national-pepper-month-november
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit In Our Frontyard ~ 2013 🐰
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit in Spring 2013
Witches’ New Year – Samhain 2025
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As the darkness now draws near
See the cycle of the year
As the light now goes within
Let the hallows dance begin.
Blessed Samhain Night!
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November … 🍁
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November
November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.
The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And Earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.
Author: Clyde Watson
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World Lemur Day 2025
World Lemur Day is celebrated on the last Friday of October, and this year, the holiday is scheduled to fall on October 31. The objective of this holiday is to raise awareness about the need to preserve this endangered species and to celebrate its unique attributes. The holiday was first observed in 2014, founded by Jonah Ratsimmbazafy in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Since then, zoos and animal rights organizations across the globe have been celebrating this particular event. World Lemur Day is celebrated in tandem with the World Lemur Festival.
American Sweetgum
American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
A Witches Brew Poem
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Witches Stew
Bubble, blubber, squirm, and gloop,
Boiling broth of bat’s tail soup.
Wobble, slobber, liquid goo,
Add the sole of one old shoe.
Spooky shadows dance around,
Of frogs and rats and snarling hounds.
Steam swirls rising to the roof,
Add one small ear and one old tooth.
Gnarly, scratchy, tickle, and itch,
Stir round and round to make it rich.
Mushy, sticky, sizzle and stew,
They’re making mischief just for you.
by Gareth Lancaster
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Halloween Season (Part V) 2012 – 2013
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2012
Kevin, the girls, and I went to a couple of fun events that season. Finally, we made it to “Boo at the Zoo” at the Fort Worth Zoo. The weather was perfect for some Trick-or-Treat time. And Sara had a Halloween Party at her daycare, where she could play games, have hot dogs, lemonade, and cake. Once in a while, it’s fun to splurge.
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2013
In 2013, we decided we wanted to register for the “Family Fright Night Camp Out” in our city. It’s an annual event on the lake peninsula in Stewart Creek Park. We brought our camping gear, Halloween decorations, and lots of candy. The event has costume competitions, Halloween decoration competitions, scream competition, Trick-or-Treat, Movie Night, etc. The girls loved camping in the park. For the Halloween season, I carved five pumpkins. Three we used for the above event. And then I carved another two for the girls on Halloween.
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… to be continued in October 2026.
Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Fox squirrels are large tree squirrels. Due to their ability to adapt to a wide range of forest habitats, they are Texas’ most common squirrel. Their greatest numbers occur in open upland forests with a mixture of oak and nut trees. Fox squirrels are an important game animal, but their fondness for corn and pecans often causes them to be considered pests by farmers.
Squirrels are usually active early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Fox squirrels nest in holes in trees or build leaf and twig nests. They eat acorns and other nuts, buds, fruit, fungi, insects, amphibians, and the inner bark of trees. Squirrels bury nuts for winter food and relocate the nuts by smell. Squirrels find only a portion of the nuts they bury, and are important in planting many species of nut trees. A single squirrel can bury several thousand pecans over 3 months.
Squirrels’ long bushy tails are used for a variety of purposes. They can be wrapped around a squirrel’s face to keep them warm, used as an aid in balancing when they run along tree limbs, or spread and used as a parachute if the squirrel should fall. With a little practice, watching a squirrel’s tail movements gives you a clue to their mood. Quick jerks of the tail signal that they are nervous or upset.
Fox squirrels usually have two litters a year. Breeding season peaks in January and February and again in May and June. The young, usually 3 – 4 to a litter, are born naked, blind, and helpless. Just three months later, however, they can survive on their own. Squirrels can live up to 15 years.
: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/easternfoxsquirrel/
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (9)
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Autumn Bradford Pear ~ 2012
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There Was A Little Witch …
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Trick-or-Treat
There was a little witch
who kept her little bat
on the teeny, tiny tip
of her pointy, little hat.
She knocked on many doors
and cackled, “Trick-or-treats!”
while the little bat held out his wings
and gathered tasty sweets.
They shared a midnight feast
besides the Boo Lagoon,
Then flew on home to dream sweet dreams
beneath a candy moon.
by Penny Parker Klostermann
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A Walk At The Cottonwood Marsh Trail In Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), Lewisville, Texas ~ 2011
Texas Spring At The Cottonwood Trail In LLELA
Our Texas Frontyard In Spring 2013
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Our Texas garden in front of the house
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National Kangaroo Awareness Day 2025 🦘
Around 30 million years ago, the kangaroo’s ancestors arrived in the Australian rainforests. According to historians, they may have developed from possum-like animals that lived solely in trees. These little creatures made their way to the ground and eventually became the first kangaroos. As the grasslands grew more prominent, so did the kangaroo species. These kangaroos evolved more and more diversified throughout time, finally developing into the red kangaroos we saw on this day, three million years ago.
We have similar-looking red and gray kangaroos, the wallaby, the musky-rat kangaroo, and others mistakenly called kangaroos. Technically, scientists categorize all these as ‘macropods,’ which means ‘big feet.’ Kangaroo, an Aboriginal name, is often used to refer to various animals of this family, not just the hop-happy ones we are familiar with. Scientifically, however, only two can be kangaroos by the narrowest definitions, the fast-hopping red and gray-colored kangaroos.
Why do these large marsupials hop, a locomotion technique seen only in smaller animals? Scientists can only theorize the answer. Presently, three ideas dominate: Kangaroos adopted this mechanism to effectively escape predators; apparently, rodents that can hop are twice as likely to escape their predators as those that run. They started hopping because these animals needed their arms free to forage for food. It might have simply been faster and more effective for kangaroos to move this way, especially in the deserts of Australia, where water and food take more effort to find.
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-kangaroo-awareness-day/
Johnson Grass
Johnson Grass (Sorghum halepense)
Kevin’s DIY Witches’ Cauldron 2009
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Kevin worked on the cauldron in previous years. But it came out the best on Halloween 2009. He had to cut a hole in the bottom to fit a pipe for the fog maker. A purple light bulb was installed before he aligned the inner cauldron with some dark fabric. Kevin glued some eyeballs and bones on top of the fabric to make them look like the witch just tossed them for her brew in the cauldron. Of course, needed a stand and a “fire”. Kevin got some golfball-sized styrofoam balls, cut a small hole, and spray-painted them, so they would look like charcoal. Then he pushed red string lights in the precut holes to make the “charcoal look like it was glowing in the fire. Once the stand and the “charcoal” were in place, he set the cauldron on top of it and let the fog machine do its job. Ta-da! The witch had some brew cooking.
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Halloween Season (Part IV) 2010 – 2011
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2010
Katelynn loves going to the pumpkin patch because she can jump in the bounce house, go on hay rides, and pick a pumpkin. Sara just enjoyed crawling around between the pumpkins. Every pumpkin had to be tested by giving it a good slap on top. We also went to the Pirate Days. Unfortunately, “Boo at the Zoo” got rained out on the day we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. But it wasn’t the end of the world, either. The girls got out and had fun, anyway.
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2011
Aww! 2011 was one of my favorite Halloween Seasons of all time so far. Katelynn had a crush on “Marvin, the Martian” and wanted to marry him. That’s right. She loved this Looney Tunes character so much that we had to get her a plush Marvin. She said she wanted to become an Astronaut and be the First Woman on Mars. Over the years, her idea of flying to Mars has changed. But she still wants to be a Paleontologist, now.
Sara was the cutest little garden gnome I’ve ever seen. It was her first Halloween, and she could walk to the houses. But she still had a hard time catching up with her older sister. Her little feet were not fast enough. So, she called Katelynn to wait for her: “Kaitin, Kaitin! I want to go T’ick-o’-T’eat with you!” Sara wasn’t scared of any monsters either. Since we always made a big fuss out of Halloween, she must have thought it was normal.
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… to be continued …
My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part IV) 2013 – 2014
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Another Sunday has arrived to show off some of my Jack-o-Lanterns from the years 2013 and 2014. Some I carved for our local “Family Fright Night Campout”. And a couple of pumpkins I carved for Halloween night. The white skull pumpkin is from Courtney. She asked me if I could capture a photo of it. It looked so cool, I had to add it to my Jack-o-Lantern photo collection.
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… to be continued …
National Reptile Awareness Day 2025
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While the history of reptiles may go hundreds of millions of years back, National Reptile Awareness Day has an unfortunately short history in comparison. Additionally, it wasn’t really until 1966 when the first Endangered Species Act was passed that awareness of the needs and threats facing reptiles (or any animal, for that matter) started to make its way into our cultural mainstream.
With the passing of that act, a mid-century push toward conservation started taking the forefront. Updates were passed in 1967 and 1969. Additionally, in 1967, the Environmental Defense Fund created their historical efforts to ban DDT from usage in the United States. Much of this movement was sparked by Rachel Carson’s seminal book, Silent Spring, which documented the adverse effects pesticides and other chemicals have on the environment.
National Reptile Awareness Day wouldn’t exist without the efforts of that movement. In fact, many reptiles wouldn’t be around today without the help of the Endangered Species Act. While National Reptile Awareness Day may have a small history compared to its subjects, it’s still part of a historically important movement to help protect and conserve all species of animals.
: https://nationaltoday.com/national-reptile-awareness-day/
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (8)
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Autumn Bradford Pear
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16 Years …
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Sixteen candles, bright and bold,
A new chapter to unfold.
You’re a teen, so wise and cool,
Just try not to break every single rule!
Happy 16th Birthday, Sara!
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In October 2010
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Fort Worth Zoo 2010
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Little Bunny In Our Frontyard ~ 2013
While I pulled some weeds, I found a little bunny hiding between the Evening Primroses in the frontyard. Since it was still little, I could catch it and examine it. Once I saw it was okay, I sat it back down in the primroses and let it move on. The plants were high enough to give the little bun-bun protection from predators.
Pole Beans
Pole Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Kevin’s DIY Cat Eyes ~ 2008
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Kevin had a couple of motors he wanted to use for something neat on Halloween. He decided to make moving cat eyes. A couple of tiki candle holders, styrofoam balls, and spray paint needed to be purchased. The strings, wooden picks, black foam sheets, and velvet fabric we had lying around the house. Kevin also installed some mini light bulbs inside the eyeballs. So, they were glowing while they moved and stared at everyone.
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Halloween Season (Part III) 2008 – 2009
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2008
Katelynn wanted to help me with the pumpkin carving. So, I’ve got her a little pumpkin she could play with and get the pumpkin guts out. She always loved to say: “We need to get all the pumpkin yikes out!” And then she played with the gooey inside of the pumpkin.
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2009
Sara was only twelve days old when we celebrated Halloween in 2009. She was such a cute little Pumpkin. Katelynn wanted to help with the pumpkins again, while her little sister took a nap. Katelynn was very proud of being a big sister. She really enjoyed taking Sara out for her first Trick-or-Treat. All bundled up, we walked through the neighborhood and collected candy on this cool October night. The fresh air was good for the little munchkin.
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… to be continued …
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (7)
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Autumn Rain in Texas 2011
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Halloween Cat Poem
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Could Be Halloween
Yowling, prowling, growling cat
Why do you switch your tail like that?
Why do your eyes flash gold and green?
Could be–must be–Halloween!
Slinky, inky, blinky cat,
Why do you arch your back like that?
What scary creatures have you seen?
Could be–must be Halloween!
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State Fair of Texas At Fair Park, Dallas, Texas 2010
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State Fair of Texas 2010
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A New Fence Pole & An Old Dismantled Shed ~ 2013
One of our fence poles didn’t have a cap to cover it. When it rained, the pole collected water. Over time, the metal started to rust through and didn’t hold up the fence. It also didn’t help that Ranger always peed on it. So, one Saturday afternoon, Kevin got the materials to fix the fence. He dug the concrete block up, which was huge. It took us both to lift it out of the ground. Once the new pole was in place, Kevin poured the concrete to keep the pole in place.
While the concrete set, Kevin dismantled the old rusty shed that was here before we moved into the house. All it did was attract rats. We had to get rid of it sooner or later. We had that extra space and enough room to trim the trumpet vines. In the meantime, Katelynn and Sara collected the rest of the twigs from the Mimosa, which was cut down three days prior. Our cats made sure that we all did our chores.
DIY – Diddlina “Trick-or-Treat” Bag 2005
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Diddlina is Diddl’s girlfriend. When I was younger, I collected everything about Diddl and his friends. I even made my own journals by drawing pictures of them. In October 2005, I created Katelynn’s Trick-or-Treat bag myself. The bag I had from a previous occasion. I imaged the concept, traced it, and then glued the tracing to construction paper. The broom got some tinsel I found in an art supply store. I used a black pen to color the face, hands, feet, hat, and costume, giving it character. And voilà, Katelynn had a Trick-or-Treat bag like no other.
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Halloween Season (Part II) 2006 – 2007
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2006
… This Halloween season was completely different from last year’s. Katelynn was excited to go to “Trick-or-Treat”. She knocked on the doors with a happy “T’ick-or-T’eeeeat”. Since she couldn’t pronounce the “r”, the neighbors thought she was adorable and gave her a lot of candy. After three houses, we had to walk home to empty the bag before we could go out there and get more candy. Oh my, so much candy and no meltdowns anymore.
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The Munster Mansion in Waxahachie, Texas
In 2004, I heard about the Munster Mansion Replica when I watched VH1 while I was preparing dinner. I talked to Kevin about it. And one weekend, we drove from Dallas to Waxahachie. When we found it, we looked at it. The owner, Charles McKee, waved at us, and we waved back.
A couple of years later, I read in the Dallas Morning News that the McKees have these weekend tours right before Halloween. Kevin and I got a babysitter for Katelynn, and down we went to Waxahachie again. They used the big parking lot in front of a local school. A school bus and a limousine were busy around the clock, picking guests up and dropping them off. It was a long wait. But once we were on the property, we had a lot of entertainment. One of the firebreathers asked me to pull a nail out of her nose. I replied, “… before this happens, I will pass out.” Everybody in line was laughing. 😊
Once we made it inside the mansion, we were not allowed to capture photos or record any film. It made us pay more attention to the tour as well. If you like to see photos and documents, you can go to the official website and check it out for more information. Here is the link:
https://www.munstermansion.com/
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2007
In 2007, Kevin had to go to Trick-or-Treat with Katelynn. I was still recovering from a knee injury and would rather stay at home. It was fun. Katelynn was dressed in her “Snow White” costume and received plenty of candy, while the neighbors and I were busy giving out candy. I have to admit, I missed the door-to-door walk that year.
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… to be continued…
My Jack-o-Lanterns (Part II) 2008 – 2010
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… to be continued …
Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) 🦆
🦆 Mallard Ducks 🦆
If someone at a park feeds bread to ducks, there are Mallards in the fray. Perhaps the most familiar of all ducks, Mallards occur throughout North America and Eurasia in ponds, parks, wilder wetlands, and estuaries. The male’s gleaming green head, gray flanks, and black tail curl arguably make it the most easily identified duck. Mallards have long been hunted for the table, and almost all domestic ducks come from this species.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (6)
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Autumn At The Reunion Tower In Dallas, Texas
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In November 2009 (4)
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Fort Worth Zoo
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~ The End ~
22 Years
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May this special day bring endless joy,
unforgettable memories,
and boundless opportunities.
Always remember, we are here for you every step of the way.
Happy 22nd Birthday, Katelynn!
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R.I.P. Mimosa Tree ~ 2013
Our Mimosa started to die and eventually needed to be cut down. One day in early April 2013, the tree service came over and chopped. We were actually glad that the tree was done. Mimosas make a big mess. They look pretty only for two to three weeks. However, the rest of the time, they release sticky sap, and their seeds create a mess. However, Ranger loved the tree. It provided a lot of shade for him.
Bradford/Callery Pear
Bradford/Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
DIY-Halloween Costume 2004 🐑
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In 2004, I saw a little lamb costume for Katelynn. She was so cute. Unfortunately, I made the hat piece a little bit too big. But that was okay. She had a lot of fun getting candy on Halloween night.
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Halloween Season (Part I) 2003 – 2005
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2003
This was Katelynn’s First Halloween. She was only 27 days old when I carved the Kitty pumpkin for her. The story behind the pumpkin itself can be found here under this link:
https://underthewhiteoakleaves.com/2022/10/01/my-jack-o-lanterns-2003-2007/
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2004
Katelynn was at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch for the first time. Oh, she had so much fun playing with the straw. Kevin and I had to fish it out of her clothes later. She was so busy throwing the straw in the air, it went everywhere. The next day, we dressed her up as a lamb. I made the costume myself. The head was a bit big for her. She enjoyed going to Trick-or-Treat with it.
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2005
It was the first year we celebrated Halloween at our new house. I made a DIY-Diddlina candy bag for all the goodies we would receive from going to Trick-or-Treat. On the other hand, Katelynn was still little and a bit unsure if she really liked this whole “Trick-or-Treat” thing. When we walked from door to door, she wasn’t very happy. Once she had some candy, it wasn’t nearly as bad anymore. But she did not like the door-to-door walk at all. A year later, this would be a whole other story. …
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… to be continued …
National Raccoon Day 2025 🦝
National Raccoon Day was brought to light through the efforts of a young Californian girl in 2002. She spread awareness of the significance of raccoons in the ecosystem. The following year, International Raccoon Appreciation Day became widely accepted among those who share similar dreams.
Raccoons are medium-sized, nocturnal, omnivorous, and furry animals, with dark masks around their eyes. They are highly ubiquitous animals that live in dens, on trees, and wherever food exists. Their original habitat is mixed forests, like in North and Central America, Europe, and Japan. The European Union prohibits transporting, importing, breeding, commercializing, or intentionally releasing them into the environment. They pose no threats to us, though.
We collectively work to clear the misconceptions surrounding these animals and look for practical steps to help save their habitat. Remember, just like all other animals, raccoons have their role in the ecosystem. Without them, the balance we have cannot remain the same.
National Kale Day 2025
Originating in Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean, kale was cultivated for consumption as early as 2000 B.C. Cabbage variants with curly leaves were in supply in 400 B.C. Greece, alongside the flat-leaved ones. These early variants are said to be the predecessors of what we now call kale. The Romans called it Sabellian kale.
The first mention of cabbage in Western Europe emerged in the 1200s, specifically regarding hard-headed cabbage. Records from the 1300s highlight the differences between loose-leafed kale and hard-headed cabbage. In the 1800s, Russian traders brought kale into Canada and subsequently the United States. David Fairchild, a USDA botanist, gets the credit for introducing kale to America. He brought it from Croatia despite disliking cabbage, kale included. The easy nature of cultivation and its affordability were responsible for its popularity in Croatia. Desalination of soil was another great benefit.
During the Second World War, the Dig for Victory campaign promoted kale cultivation in Britain. At the time, the vegetable was the perfect candidate for cultivation because it provided crucial nutrients lacking from meals due to rationing. Kale was typically used for decoration in the U.S. It gained recognition as an edible food during the 1990s because of its rich nutritional value. The 2010s saw kale gain popularity, becoming a diet favorite despite other vegetables being just as rich in nutrients. National Kale Day was founded by Chef Jennifer Iserloh and Dr. Drew Ramsey to celebrate the health benefits of kale and its many culinary applications. They entered a petition at Change.org aimed at giving the observance legitimacy.
American Coot (Fulica americana)
The American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step, which facilitates walking on dry land. Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America. Groups of coots are called a “raft” or “cover”. The oldest known coot lived to be 22 years old.
Hello, October 2025!
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October Autumn leaves of red and gold that crunch beneath your feet,
Pumpkins on front porches, candy corn, and trick-or-treat,
Tart and tangy cider, apples ripened on the trees,
A hint of winter is coming on the chilly autumn breeze.
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My favorite month has arrived! October has all the beautiful Autumn activities I like the most. We can go pumpkin picking at the farms, wear sweaters, while shopping for Autumn goodies, and eat and drink a lot of Pumpkin Spice everything. and watch the leaves finally turning in beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red. In the meantime, decorations will go up to make our house and yard look more spooky for the Halloween season.
I LOVE OCTOBER!
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Beautiful Colors of Autumn (5)
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Autumn Bradford Pear Leaves
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In November 2009 (3)
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Fort Worth Zoo
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… to be continued …
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (6)
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The rest of the raised beds were built and filled with soil. and ready for some planting. Joshua was my greenhouse inspector. He would make sure the beds were built to standard. The vegetable seedlings grew nicely and were ready to be planted into the beds.
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Bluebird of Happiness Day 2025
A bluebird is easy to spot. A male bluebird has a brilliant blue back and flame-orange belly, while a female bluebird has duller colors than the males, much like many other birds. For the longest time, it has been known that the bluebird is a harbinger of happiness. This notion was first held by the Chinese, who saw the bird as immortal, a protector, and a symbol of the sun. Native Americans, too, were in deep awe of the bluebird. Navajos revered it as a spirit in animal form, and the Iroquois believed the bluebird’s song would make the harsh winters bearable. For the Russians, the bluebird represented hope. In 1908, a play named “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck depicted two children in search of the Bluebird of Happiness. This play was adapted into an opera, several films, and a children’s novel, further popularizing the assumption that bluebirds bring happiness.
Elephant Appreciation Day 2025
Elephant Appreciation Day is an excellent opportunity to show these majestic and beautiful creatures the respect they deserve. Elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth, so it’s only right that they have a day completely dedicated to them. Sadly, humans are increasingly placing the elephant’s future at risk.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (4)
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Autumn Photos with Sara in November 2010
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In November 2009 (2)
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Fort Worth Zoo
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The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (5)
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Some of my veggies and fruits were potted separately. It was still too cold to plant the tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse-raised beds. There were nights when I had to cover the crop since I didn’t heat the greenhouse. Two to three weeks later, it was a different story. The soil and the air were warm enough for planting. And I had to keep the greenhouse door and window open during the daytime. It became very warm very quickly in Texas.
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International Talk Like A Pirate Day 2025
All you bilge rats, Aaaaaarrrrrrgh! As you are out and about on September 19th, don’t be surprised if people are saying, “Ahoy Matie,” “Avast,” “Aye, Aye Capt’n,” “Land ho!” and many other pirate-like phrases, because it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
While ordering your coffee in the drive-thru, ask if they have a change for gold bullion. Try testing your pirate language out at the library when asking for the location of Moby Dick. The pirate language always fares well in rough seas. Settle a debate with “I’m right or I’ll walk the plank!” To polish your persona, practice a swagger, limp, and squint. Long days at sea give pirates unique qualities.
:https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international-talk-like-a-pirate-day
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 🦢
The exotic Mute Swan is the elegant bird of Russian ballets and European fairy tales. This swan swims with its long neck curved into an S and often holds its wings raised slightly above its back. Although they’re numerous and familiar in city parks and in bays and lakes in the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic, Mute Swans are not native to North America. Their aggressive behavior and voracious appetites often disturb local ecosystems, displace native species, and even pose a hazard to humans.
Mute Swans were first brought to North America to decorate ponds and lakes in towns and cities, and that’s still the best place to find these familiar waterfowl. You may also find them on shallow wetlands, lakes, rivers, and estuaries within the scattered range where they’ve become established in the wild.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (3)
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Autumn Willow Oak 2008
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A Visit To The Fort Worth Zoo In November 2009 (1)
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Fort Worth Zoo 2009
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… to be continued …
My Garden Buddies ~ 2013 🐍
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Rough Earth Snake & Northwestern Garter Snake
My slithering little friends kept the garden and greenhouse bug-free. They enjoyed living in our yard. Minding their own business, while being good garden helpers. I wish more people could see the benefits of having a non-venomous snake on their properties.
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Wild Pansy
Viola tricolor is a common European wildflower, growing as an annual or short-lived perennial. The species is also known as wild pansy, Johnny Jump up (though this name is also applied to similar species such as the yellow pansy), heartsease, heart’s ease, heart’s delight, tickle-my-fancy, Jack-jump-up-and-kiss-me, come-and-cuddle-me, three faces in a hood, love-in-idleness, and pink of my john.
It has been introduced into North America, where it has spread. It is the progenitor of the cultivated pansy, and is therefore sometimes called wild pansy; before the cultivated pansies were developed, “pansy” was an alternative name for the wild form. It can produce up to 50 seeds at a time. The flowers can be purple, blue, yellow, or white.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (2)
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Autumn Sweetgum Leaves
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Texas Discovery Gardens At The Fairground In Dallas, Texas 2009 🦋
Texas Discovery Gardens is a 7.5-acre native garden and butterfly house in Dallas, Texas
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (4)
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After the greenhouse was built, the next stage was to start a garden-raised bed. I still had plenty of weeds to pull on the greenhouse ground. When most of the weeds were gone, I loosened the clay and mixed it with the raised bed soil. Kevin and I put up an 8′ x 25″ x 1.5″ wood plank as a barrier before we filled in the rest of the soil. Finley inspected and watched my garden work before he took a nap behind the greenhouse. I guess watching people work can make a cat very tired. It was a sunny Spring afternoon. I can’t blame him.
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Spalding Baseball Day 2025 ⚾
Baseball is one of the most popular American bat-and-ball games played between two teams. Each team consists of nine players, and they take turns batting and fielding. The game ensues with a pitcher, a player on the fielding team, throwing the ball. A player from the batting team tries to hit the ball with a bat. Baseball is a game where we can see thrilling moments like a flashy home run, a super grounder, and shocking strikeouts. Dramatic moments and fascinating statistics make each game worth watching.
When we talk about baseball, Albert Goodwill Spalding is a person that we cannot ignore. His contributions to the game are beyond words and worthy of being celebrated. He played baseball throughout his youth and played his first competitive game with the Rockford Pioneers. It was a youth team when he joined in 1865. After seeing his impressive 26–2 victory over the Mercantiles, Rockford Forest Citys approached him. Spalding was only 15 years old at that time. He played for Rockford Forest City for five years.
In 1871, Spalding joined the Boston Red Stockings after the formation of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. The Boston Red Stockings were a precursor club to the well-known modern Atlanta Braves. He was highly successful there and won 206 games. He retired from the game in 1878 at the age of 27. Even after retirement, he continued as the president of the White Stockings, in which he was also a part-time owner. He was a major influence on the National League. Spalding’s career-winning percentage is the highest ever by a baseball pitcher.
Ginger Cat Appreciation Day 2025 🐈
Oftentimes, the turn we are least expectant to take ends up changing our lives. Such is the story of Chris Roy, a software developer turned animal rights activist. In 1997, Roy found a stray cat near his home. Out of pity, he carried the stray home and decided to foster him for a while. Little did he know how that runt of the litter would change the purpose of his life. Within weeks, Roy formed a special bond with the feline and gave him a permanent place in his house. The 14-pound tabby filled Roy’s day with warmth and belonging. Doobert, the name he gave to his ginger, lived for 17 years.
In 2014, Doobert’s death rocked the shores of Roy’s life and sucked him into deep corners of uncharted grief. Grappling with the loss of his beloved ginger, Roy dedicated the arrival of September 1 as Ginger Cat Appreciation Day. He also launched Doobert, an online app that connects rescue homes and animal shelters with volunteers throughout the world. Since 2014, Roy has worked with over 1,200 organizations across North America and built a volunteer base of 27,000+ pet lovers and enthusiasts. By dedicating the day in memory of his cat, Roy aims to raise awareness about the divine duty of humans to look after our furry friends.
With the annual celebration of Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, we pledge to carry the loving spirit of Doobert with us and spread the message of animal welfare across the globe. Reach out to your local shelters, feed the strays of your community, and raise a toast to the amazing companionship that our pets provide us.
Beautiful Colors of Autumn (1)
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Autumn Bradford Pear
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Hello, September 2025!
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September
Indian Summer breezes blow
the geese are taking flight.
A softly glowing harvest Moon
lights up the starry night.
The special warmth and happiness
we feel throughout September.
Will fill our hearts all Winter long
with beauty to remember.
Author: Unknown
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🌻 At The End of August 2025 🌻
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Summer is leaving silently.
Much like a traveler
Approaching the end of an
Amazing journey.
Darnell Lamont Walker
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National Zoo Awareness Day 2025
The history of zoos dates back to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The intent, of course, was different. Back then, many rulers kept exotic animals — to either gift other rulers or for vanity’s sake. There was little to no effort in caring for the animals. Humans still lacked the requisite knowledge or will.
Over millennia, our understanding of the animal kingdom has evolved. We saw animal trainers and zookeepers emerge. However, the general idea of animals as exotic entertainment persisted. Gradually, new knowledge and tools for caring for animals became widespread; zoos and aquariums were born. Around the same time, the idea of humans caring for wildlife first took root and stayed.
By the 19th century, zoology had become a popular field of science. Private animal collections were frowned upon, becoming less and less popular over time. The modern zoo, as we know it today, grew from this evolution of thought. Even so, not all of them are the same.
There are zoos open to the public, while others are purely for conservation purposes. Many private zoos run breeding programs to protect critically endangered species from extinction. Other programs take in rescued animals that can no longer survive in the wild for various reasons.
As conscientious citizens, we must critically examine the zoos in our areas. What is the intent? Are there programs that benefit the animals and conservation? Does the zoo educate the community on wildlife and ecosystems? Are the animal enclosures mimicking natural habitats? National Zoo Awareness Day hopes to instill fascination, love, and respect for animals, particularly when they are in human care.
Bill Allen Memorial Park, The Colony, Texas ~ 2008
With more than 48 acres of natural landscaping consisting of two playground areas, two basketball courts, a pavilion, an amphitheater, a pond, and a newly expanded disc golf course, Bill Allen Memorial Park is perfect for the whole family.
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (3)
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The seedlings finally moved to the greenhouse. The nights weren’t too cold for the Spring/Summer sowings anymore. One night, I wasn’t sure if the seedlings would survive the cooler night. So, I covered them up with some sandwich backs. I wanted to be on the safe side. The next morning, the greenhouse was covered in dew. But no frost. I was lucky. 🍀
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Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2025
🌈 In Memory of Ranger, Finley, Lexi, Zoey, and Ozzy 🌈
The death of a pet, whether furry, feathered, or an uncommon variety, is felt deeply. They become family and a familiar part of our lives. Mourning their death is different for everyone, and the observance provides a way to help heal the ache of loss. The pain of loss is real. As each person travels through their grief, we remember the companionship and comfort they provided to us. Don’t forget that part of the relationship includes the care you provide. The empty space left by the loss of a beloved pet is sometimes a difficult void to overcome.
National Dog Day 2025 🐕
Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason, so why not celebrate them? These furry friends range in all different shapes, sizes, and breeds. There is a dog out there for everyone! Whether you like big dogs or small dogs, every pup should be celebrated on National Dog Day. This holiday was created in 2004 by Colleen Paige, a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate. She created this day so that all dogs can be celebrated and also to draw attention to the number of dogs in shelters and to encourage adoption for those who have yet to find a place to call home. August 26 is significant to Colleen because it is the day her family adopted her Sheltie when she was 10 years old.
Since the first celebration in 2004, National Dog Day has grown and is now celebrated across the world. In 2013, the holiday was written into New York legislation and can be seen on the New York State Senate’s website. To spread the word further, those who oversee the holiday have joined forces with many rescue partners, including The Humane Society of the United States and West Coast Labrador Retriever Rescue. Together, they draw attention to the number of dogs that are without a home and try to actively encourage people searching for a dog to visit an adoption shelter instead of a pet store.
Since the first day back in 2004, it is estimated that approximately one million dogs have been saved through adoption in the U.S. For dog owners who aren’t looking to add to their family, National Dog Day has become a day for treating their friends like the legends they are and enjoying the connection that we’ve built up with dogs over thousands of years. Colleen Paige, the founder of the holiday, also uses the day to draw attention to the multiple ways in which dogs contribute to our society. From putting their lives on the line to help law enforcement track down bombs or drug dealers to providing assistance for those who need it, dogs play an important role. Nowadays, dogs can even identify cancer in patients.
National Dog Day has also been using its platform to encourage dog ownership of all breeds, mixed and pure, and continuously pushes for all dogs to be allowed to live happy and abuse-free lives. National Dog Day is on an upward trajectory and continues to grow in popularity. It is widely covered in the media each year, and rescue homes are the all-important exposure they need to get their message across. Whether you choose to celebrate by volunteering at a rescue home, making a donation to a shelter, or giving your furry friend an extra big cuddle, make sure you spend this day acknowledging just how awesome dogs are.
Hot Summer Days (4)
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Baby Grackle in Summer 2011
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Gaylord Texan Resort, Grapevine, Texas 2007
In May 2007, Kevin graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Keller University. The ceremony was held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. After the ceremony, I was able to capture a few photos of the Resort, which resembles the Alamo and the San Antonio Riverwalk.
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (2)
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Finally, the two pieces I had to reorder were arriving. And I could finish building the greenhouse. Once the frame was up, I slid the panels on the bottom and installed the window, before I could slide the roof panels in place. The ground was already straightened when I put the base together. Kevin had to help me lift the greenhouse across the fence. The kit was light, so it was easy for us to get it from the porch to the garden, where I could fasten it to the base. The following morning, I built the door and installed it before a Spring storm came through. The greenhouse made it through the storm.
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National Aviation Day 2025 ✈
National Aviation Day on August 19 should make us stop and think about the power of flight. Yet, some scientific and technological marvels become so commonplace that we seldom take the time to re-examine their revolutionary impact with an open and inquisitive mind. In just a handful of generations, aviation went from pure, pie-in-the-sky speculation to a mundane reality that inspires about as much wonder as a trip aboard a Greyhound bus.
It’s that ho-hum attitude to the miracle of flight that makes National Aviation Day such an excellent national observation. Plus, it takes place on Orville Wright’s birthday!
International Orangutan Day 2025 🦧
The exact year that International Orangutan Day was established is uncertain. The day is marked, however, to save species that are on the edge of extinction. The goal of International Orangutan Day is to raise awareness about the predicament of this species, which has progressed from endangered to critically endangered. Orangutans have been around for millions of years and are thought to be the ancestors of gorillas. They are large apes that spend the majority of their time in trees and are only found in the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra. The two species that live there were formerly thought to be the same.
Further research has shown that they are two distinct species that separated some 400,000 years ago. Orangutans have enormous arm lengths that reach about seven feet from tip to tip, which is impressive given that they only stand around five feet above the ground. When orangutans stand up straight, their hands are almost touching the ground. Their long arms complement their arboreal lifestyle, letting them move from tree to tree and construct shelters from the canopy’s massive leaves. Because orangutans spend 90 % of their time in the treetops looking for food, deforestation is highly damaging to them. Orangutans are mostly herbivores, but omnivorous orangutans will eat bark, insects, and even meat if available.
The tropical rainforest had been destroyed due to the farms’ improper management. Furthermore, the farmers consider the orangutans to be a nuisance and either kill them or burn the forest down. There have only been 20,000 survivors since 2006, but there should be more now. As a result, deforestation is the fundamental cause of such a tiny number of orangutans, and if it continues, the big apes will become extinct sooner. Raising awareness by commemorating International Orangutan Day can assist in increasing the possibility of this endangered species being rescued.
Unfortunately, humans are the greatest threat to the survival of orangutans. Deforestation, for example, encroaches on their habitat. In addition, illicit hunting claims the lives of 3,000 orangutans each year. Some wildlife specialists believe the orangutan will become extinct in the wild over the next 50 years. However, several organizations are working to conserve orangutans. The Centre for Orangutan Protection, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, The Orangutan Project, Orangutan Outreach, and the Humane Society are a few of these organizations.
Hot Summer Days (3)
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Rainbow in late Summer 2010
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Prehistoric Site In Lewisville, Texas ~ 2006
Since I read a book about Native Americans when I lived in Germany, I wanted to visit the marker where the prehistoric site of Clovis-aged people fire hearths had been found in 1951 due to the excavation for the Lewisville Lake Dam, which contained Hackberry seeds, fish, birds, tortoises, rabbits, squirrels, mussels, and bigger animals like mammoth, bison. wolves. coyotes and several more. The first investigation took place between 1951 and 1957. The second investigation was between 1978 and 1980. Due to the severe drought in North Texas, the site was further investigated in the late 70s. In 2006, I found the marker. We had an extreme drought that year as well. But the site was still covered by water.
Texas Gardening In March 2013 (1)
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I started my garden in the early Spring of 2013 by sowing beans, bell peppers, corn, pumpkins, sunflowers, tomatoes, and other goodies. I also worked on some herbs. At least, I had something ready to grow in the greenhouse, once the parts arrived and I could finish building it. Joshua made sure that I watered the seedlings every day. And Sara enjoyed the milder days on the back porch.
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Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. It is amongst the most familiar of North American butterflies and an iconic pollinator, although it is not an especially effective pollinator of milkweed. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of 8.9–10.2 cm (3.5–4.0 in). A Müllerian mimic, the viceroy butterfly, is similar in color and pattern but is markedly smaller and has an extra black stripe across each hindwing.
The eastern North American monarch population is notable for its annual southward late-summer/autumn instinctive migration from the northern and central United States and southern Canada to Florida and Mexico. During the fall migration, monarchs cover thousands of miles, with a corresponding multigenerational return north in spring. The western North American population of monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains often migrates to sites in southern California, but individuals have been found in overwintering Mexican sites. In 2009, monarchs were reared on the International Space Station, successfully emerging from pupae located in the station’s Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus.
World Elephant Day 2025 🐘
Elephants and humans have come a long way together throughout the history of civilization. Thanks to the sheer expanse of the African elephant’s natural environment, as well as its size and threatening posture, it has largely managed to resist captivity and domestication. The Asian elephant, on the other hand, which has lived alongside humans for over 4,000 years, enjoys great respect and is associated with various cultural and spiritual customs. In Thailand, for example, the elephants are a national icon with a national holiday dedicated entirely to them, and they can even receive a royal title from the king.
Despite all of the above, we still don’t know much about elephants. They have the biggest brains of any land animal, making them clever, conscious, social, and empathetic — qualities humans strive for in themselves. Humans and elephants share many characteristics, and they are possibly more like us than any other animal. But we are putting their future in jeopardy and threatening their essential biodiverse habitats throughout Asia and Africa.
Elephants are a keystone species in their environments, as they promote healthy ecosystems and encourage biodiversity. As the World Elephant Day website says, “To lose the elephant is to lose an environmental caretaker and an animal from which we have much to learn.”
We can save elephants by enforcing stronger local- and international protection policies and legislation for wild elephants against poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, promoting better management of their natural habitats, educating people on the vital role of the elephant in ecosystems, improving the way elephants in captivity are treated, and, if necessary, reintroducing captive elephants into wildlife reserves to allow a natural replenishing of endangered populations. These are just some of the aims of various elephant conservation organizations around the world.
Elephants are running out of space and time. We have to work together to prevent senseless poaching and the trafficking of ivory, and establish protected natural sanctuaries in which elephants and other wildlife can thrive — before it’s too late and they’re all gone.
Hot Summer Days (2)
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Summer Fireworks 2010
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World Lion Day 2025
The first World Lion Day came into being in 2013. It was headed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, a couple who are passionate about preservation and wild cats. After realizing that lion populations have drastically decreased worldwide, the Jouberts approached “National Geographic” for the brand’s help. Forming a partnership with them, the couple came up with the Big Cat Initiative (B.C.I.) in 2009. The B.C.I.’s main goal would be to protect and preserve the remaining lion species in the world. While aspects like deforestation, climate change, and human intervention may have impacted lion populations, studies have shown that their extremely low numbers may also have to do with ice ages and natural environmental disasters that have led them to become secluded in only a few countries of the world, namely India and South Africa. To date, the B.C.I. has made substantial leaps, from getting 150+ grant awards to reducing almost 3,000 threats to 3,000 wild cats to removing 13,000 life-threatening snares.
The lion comes from the ‘Felidae’ family of cats, and it is considered to be an apex predator. It is the second-largest cat, weighing around 300 to 600 pounds, with the first being its cousin, the tiger. An average lion’s body is muscular with a short, round head and ears, and a tufty tail. Its sex can be identified through its heavy and luscious mane, which is absent in lionesses. Lions also happen to be the only cats that roam around in large groups known as a pride. Scientists believe that lions do so because it is easier to catch prey in the wild. Their natural habitats are savannas and grasslands. You will most likely find a pride of lions near water bodies as they strategically wait for prey to come there for a drink and then pounce on them.
National S’mores Day 2025
While the origins of National S’mores Day remain unknown, s’more, the great American camping treat, has a long, delicious history. The first mention of such a treat was in the 1920s in a book of recipes published by Campfire Marshmallows, home of the original marshmallow and still in business today. At that time, the recipe was called a ‘Graham Cracker Sandwich’ and suggested the treat had already been made popular by the Boy- and Girl Scouts. Later, in 1927, the Girl Scouts published a similar recipe in “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts,” but they called it ‘some more.’ Finally, in the late ’30s to late ’50s, various recipes gave the name as we know it today, s’mores.
The ingredients for the original s’mores are one marshmallow, milk chocolate squares, and two graham crackers. The traditional method for making s’mores is by a campfire, and it’s hard to beat that experience. Part of the fun is each person searching for their own long, sturdy stick capable of holding a mound of marshmallows over the fire for toasting. Then comes the toasting debate — how toasted do you prefer your marshmallows? Of course, this leads to a full-on psychological evaluation. Do you set your marshmallow on the fire and blow the flame out once it is burned? Do you allow your marshmallow to hover over the flame and toast to a less-than-charred yet caramelized state? Do you barely get the marshmallow tan? Whatever your preference for marshmallow toastiness, the end result is the same — huge smiles and full bellies. Enjoy your time today with family, friends, and the gooey goodness of s’mores!
Jumbo, The Mammoth Sculpture In Fair Park, Dallas, Texas 2006
Jumbo, the Dallas Mammoth, by sculptor Tom Tischler,
was modeled after a fossil excavated in Dallas.
Mammoths roamed Texas until 10,000 years ago.
The Greenhouse In Texas ~ 2013 (1)
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My greenhouse arrived toward the end of February 2013. It was a Thursday. And on the following weekend, I began to build the greenhouse kit. To my dismay, I noticed two frame pieces were broken. I had to call the company the following Monday and wait for the pieces to arrive. UGH! That sucked.
In the meantime, Kevin fixed the chain-link fence and gate poles for the garden space. It’s an area to prevent the dogs from pooping in our garden. Katelynn and I cut a bush down and pulled its roots out as well as we could. Once she found a worm, she was too busy playing with it, so she was not much help to me dig roots out of the ground.
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Texas Bluebonnet
Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Mockingbirds are one of the most commonly noticed birds in the state of Texas. They are either applauded for their audaciousness or cursed for their persistence in nocturnal singing or in the defense of their territory. Insects, fruit, crustaceans, and small vertebrates make up the mockingbird’s diet. The fact that they enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables hasn’t exactly made them gardeners’ friends either, although they do eat lots of insects.
Mockingbirds are found in just about every habitat type in the state. The males’ territoriality and constant singing and displaying during the breeding season make them the most noticeable birds in Texas. Often, this territoriality takes the form of early morning singing sessions or diving attacks on other animals or people!
Unmated male mockingbirds sing more than mated ones, and only unmated males sing at night. Both sexes sing in the fall to claim winter feeding territories. These areas are often different than their spring breeding territories. Mockingbirds mimic 50 other bird songs. They have also been known to imitate other sounds they hear, such as rusty hinges, whistling, cackling hens, and dogs barking so expertly that even an electronic analysis could not tell the difference between the mockingbird and the original. Scientists have found that female mockingbirds are attracted to males that can make the most different sounds.
Hot Summer Days (1)
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Double Rainbow in Summer 2008
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National Sisters Day 2025
National Sisters Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. Nothing can quite compare to the bond that sisters have, and this is a day to treasure the closeness that forms as you grow up together, sharing your secrets, your dreams, and all the fun times. Sisters have a deep connection that grows throughout childhood and remains strong throughout life. National Sisters Day is a chance for you to spend some quality time with your sister and to cherish the connection that you have.
Resource: https://nationaltoday.com/sisters-day/
Downtown Dallas In December 2004
Dallas, Texas 2004
Summer Poppies ~ Lughnasadh 2025
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Blessed Lughnasadh ~ First Harvest of the Year!
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Beautiful Harvest Season 2025 (2)
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Nature stands at the threshold of Autumn; it is still filled with Summer’s warm, delightful energy, yet there is something in the orange-tinted sunlight that speaks of change. Dusk arrives a little sooner than anticipated. The grain in the field and the fruits and vegetables in the garden begin to ripen.
We celebrate our personal progress and achievements, as well as the harvest at hand. We celebrate, knowing that we must stay focused on the crops that are still ripening. It is a time to reconcile our hopes with our fears. We joyfully receive the first rewards of our efforts, yet we still await the outcome of the remaining crops.
http://www.earthspiritpath.org
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Pre-gardening In February 2013
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In February 2013, I purchased an 8-foot-by-6-foot greenhouse kit. While I waited for the kit to arrive at our house, I started some seeds with Katelynn and Sara. We also prepared some avocado pits and let a pineapple grow roots in a water-filled jar. The girls had a miniature greenhouse with colorful salad tomatoes.
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Beautiful Harvest Season 2025 (1)
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Lughnasadh is the festival of the First Harvest. It’s held on the 1st and the 2nd of August, halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. The festival is named after the Sun God Lugh It focuses on the First Harvest of crops and offering them to the Deities.
:https://www.instagram.com/witchytips/
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Texas Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)
The pecan is a member of the Juglandaceae family. Juglandaceae are represented worldwide by seven and ten extant genera and more than 60 species. Most of these species are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere of the New World, but some can be found on every continent except Antarctica. The first fossil examples of the family appear during the Cretaceous. Differentiation between the subfamilies of Engelhardioideae and Juglandioideae occurred during the early Paleogene, about 64 million years ago. Extant examples of Engelhardioideae are generally tropical and evergreen, while those of Juglandioideae are deciduous and found in more temperate zones.
The second major step in the development of pecan was a change from wind-dispersed fruits to animal dispersion. This dispersal strategy coincides with developing a husk around the fruit and a drastic change in the relative concentrations of fatty acids. The ratio of oleic to linoleic acids is inverted between wind- and animal-dispersed seeds. Further differentiation from other species of Juglandaceae occurred about 44 million years ago during the Eocene. The fruits of the pecan genus Carya differ from those of the walnut genus Juglans only in the formation of the husk of the fruit. The husks of walnuts develop from the bracts, bracteoles, and sepals. The husks of pecans develop from the bracts and the bracteoles only.
Under The Harvest Moon 