Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Times Up - Back to Blogging

Back to Texas
The drawing for the winter was to make a return trip to Texas!  We decided to leave in November and made our way to Pennsylvania to see Mom and my siblings.  We had seen our children and grandchildren, said a "goodbye" to each one, trusting we would seen them again in the spring. On the road again!

I took a pause posting on the blog but I can honestly say that I missed this opportunity to share a few thoughts and some of our pictures. So we are back!

Women's History Month

On the road, we always find interesting things to see and learn.  This cabin, called the Pucketts Cabin, was along the Blue Ridge Parkway and reading about this woman's life has stayed with me since then.  Orleans Hawks Puckett married at 16 years of age, and until the age of 50 she herself had 24 children none of whom lived more than a few days.

After that age, she decided on her "practice" and became the midwife of the mountains. It is believed she delivered over 1000 babies, and never lost a baby or a mother. She charged one dollar for her service and delivered the last baby when she was 102 years old, the same year she died.

There is now a Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute in Ashville, North Carolina that continues her legacy to care for children and their mothers.  She is one of the league of women who helped build the history of this country and we honour her!

Rodeo Experience
                       


One of the true experience of Texas is a small town rodeo.  Los Fresnos provided us this chance.  We wandered around and saw the animals and listened to some of the music. I had a most delicious brisket sandwich and we enjoyed a lemonade and French fries. By 3 o'clock we were packed into the stands and had a wonderful first hand sight that included bull riding, calf roping, and bronc busting.

We made a collage of those events in picture one. But perhaps the most enjoyable event was the mutton busting shown in picture two.  Children ride on a sheep, and see how long they can stay on the critter. It was histerical! 

Turtle Release


We had some cold nights and days which meant many of the Green Turtles in the shallow, sea grass filled Laguna Madre were stunned and rescued by Turtle, Inc. After the rescue, the turtles were warmed up and as soon as the weather cooperated, they released about 65 from the beach on South Padre Island. It was a thrilling first for us! 
       
Birds Abound
                     
One of the reasons we come to the Rio Grande Valley is the varied bird life.  I kept thinking to call this collage we made "Birds of Color".  It makes me realize that nature tries to show us how to live our lives. These diverse birds live together.  They have "learned" how to share the same space and how to get along. 

First Day of Spring - the Cacti are Bloomimg


                            


We have been thrilled with all the wildflower blooming and the other day on our hike we saw the beginning of bloom on the Prickly Pear and the Horse Hobbler Cactus.

It makes us realize that soon we will be migrating back north.  We will stay here until early May so we don't miss the Spring Migation and then it will be On the Road Again!  We are happy and grateful!
Love to you from L and L. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️