"In country"

I went back last weekend to Blackbird Farm. It's near Fayetteville, Texas, about 90 miles west of Houston. (Full story link below in Texas escapes.) Think oak-studded fields, gentle rolling hills, blue skies. It was also really hot, but this is Texas and it's officially summer. There's also lots of farm and wildlife. I stumbled on this little baby jackrabbit crouching in a field, I guess waiting for its mother in the shade. I went back to find it later with Joe and it was still there waiting. It seemed so scared.  I know I'm a sucker but it made me sad to think of this tiny creature living such an anxious life. So many creatures on Earth seem to live in constant fear. Big sigh. On a happier note, Snowball, spring baby of Freckles', is coming along nicely. What a gorgeous calf!

Tomato Envy

This weekend, dear friends hosted their annual tomato fest, in which urban farmers bring our tomatoes to be judged. We didn't do so great on big tomatoes this year. I'm admiring some of the better entries in this photo. Just wait until next year.

Our Garden Gets Some Limelight!

Joe and I joined the Midtown Community Garden earlier this year and it is by far one of the best things I've done in a very long time. It's a tiny wonder deep in the heart of the city. My grandfather had a massive garden in Albuquerque's North Valley where I grew up. But as an adult, I didn't do much gardening until I met Joe (aka Joe Holley, aka DJ).  I love working our allotment, getting to know the other folks and watching each individual parcel of land flourish. The Houston Chronicle came out and wrote a story about it in the Sunday Star section on June 9. The link: http://bit.ly/KlrpGR


                                            

Great Texas Escapes

I love finding great escapes and when I do,  I sometimes write about them for the Houston Chronicle. We went to Blackbird Farm on the always pitch-perfect advice of my dear late friend, Linda Barth. It did not disappoint. The place is serene, comfortable, unique - and not very far from Houston, just 90 miles west of the city. What a delight. Here's the story. http://bit.ly/KVwIhB

And these are a couple of other cool Texas places I ventured to and wrote about as well:

Escape to Rockport: http://bit.ly/MqLFWJ

The wild Llano River: http://bit.ly/voIF6R