Wednesday, April 11, 2012

A Visit to the Jalapeno Tree



Once again, we had a craving for Mexican food
and not just any Mexican food......
but Mexican food from the Jalapeno Tree
in Marshall, TX.


As usual, we went the back way
and I took my camera and had my eyes
peeled for Indian Paintbrush.
It should be blooming
right about now and we did find a
few blooms here and there.


My dear hubbie managed to find a
spot to pull off the road so I could
 take a few pics.

As you can see, they aren't very good ones,
looking overexposed for some reason.

I had to wade through weeds to get these
and I just knew there had to be red bugs
hiding among that ankle deep grass!



The red clover was just beautiful and
these tiny, sweet lavender blooms
were so pretty.





On the way home, just as we crossed
the Louisiana State line, these pink
 blooms caught our eye.

So, once again, off to the side of the
road we go......


With the help of my friend Melissa,
we identified this as a locust.


This was a large shrub and instead
of white flowers it was a beautiful pink
color and simply stunning.

Can you tell...I love wildflowers?


It's only downside, well it actually had two...

First, it had wicked thorns on its stems and
second, I am pretty sure it is very invasive,
spreading by runners. :(
I would love to have this out in my
front yard somewhere, but don't
think it's a good idea .


In the background, we could see
thunderheads forming so we made
our way on to the house.

Feed us and show us some country
 beauty and we are happy!

What a lovely way to end our day.............

Til next time,
                     Carolyn




Wednesday, April 04, 2012


OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away


As the uncertain harvest; keep us here


All simply in the springing of the year.
From the poem Spring by Robert Frost
 
 
The Carolina Jasmine and Formosa Azalea
are from my yard.
 
The peony pictures were taken at
the Norton Art Gallery gardens.
I played around a bit in Picasa editing
on the Peony shots for fun.
 
We are still enjoying the beauty of spring
in our part of the south.
 
 
 
Carolyn

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Traveling the Back Roads


The weather is beautiful, the skies blue and
the weather warm.
We decided not to spend the day
 cleaning and doing yardwork.....
instead we opted to take
a day trip the little town of
San Augustine, TX.


It is located on the El Camino Real,
which runs from Natchitoches, LA to
Old Mexico.
There is lots of history packed into
this little place!

We visited the museum, entering through 
a long Muscadine vine arbor.
Aren't the shadows lovely?
We learned about
the Ais Indians (pronounced ice)
who lived here originally when the
Spanish established the Mission Dolores.
(Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais)


We visited the courthouse downtown with
its pretty green windows.




We then checked out the hoosegow next door....
not a place I would like to spend the night for sure.






Taking the backroads once again from Texas
over to the Louisiana side, we passed this
quaint little church and cemetery.


You know I just can't resist
the history of an old cemetery! 


Did you check out the date on this one??
Born 1777 -1843
Came to Texas 1824



We had such a lovely day.
The price of gasoline is becoming
so prohibitive, I'm not sure we'll
be able to indulge in these little trips
as often as we like, so I am
cherishing them all the more.


Hope your weekend was filled
with beauty and happiness as well.

                                         Carolyn