A day in the life of Gabey's Mom, a photoessay.

Here are a few snapshots from a day in the life of our little angel...

Peace.  At least when he's sleeping.

Question everything. Even at naptime.

A little bit saucy and always pushing the limits.

But helpful!

Likes to read or be read to.

"Bunk" - the way he shows affection.  To Mommy, to Daddy, and even to Ele.

(We thought he was over this.)  

Still eats dirt if the occasion calls for it.

Daredevil.  Already taking after Daddy.

But loves animals, especially the horsey, like Mommy, too.

Full of surprises.

Tractor, tractor, tractor - to the 50th power.

No, really.  He says it at least 100x a day.

Our littlest vintner.  In fact, we have been teaching him not to pick the grapes this week.

Our smart boy already knows tons of words. 

Here is his response to 'Where's your hair?'

And 'Where's your ear?'

Then after his bath he asks for 'Brushing.'

And he's even learned to put shoes on.  Mine that is.

He takes his game down the slide, although best results are when Mommy or Daddy are there to catch.

Alls well that ends well, though.

Happy Mother's Day from our little family to yours!! :)

Instagram-tastic!

(I picked that title because it rolled off the tongue better than instagram*cracker, which somehow just didn't sound right ;)

I've gotten a new app on my iPhone lately and it's trying to consume my life.  Or maybe just fill in the gap where my old camera used to fit and hold the place before I can get a new one.

It's called instagram.  If you've been wandering through the interweb long, you've probably seen what it can do.

Basically it takes pictures either new ones or ones in your photo album and ramps them up a bit.  Or tones them down.  Or just waves some digital wand over them so they look like 1977.  That's even the name of one of the filters.  1977.  I'd like to say it was a good year.  I was in existence then, although I took all my oxygen in liquid form, as in from the womb.  But I like the 1977 filter very well all the same.

So here are a few of my favorites so far...

Here's the first before-and-after group.  Starring my favorite subject, of course.

The nice thing about the instagram photo is it really tightens in on Gabriel and perhaps gives it a wistful feel.  Well, it does to me at least.

Next up I definitely caught some 'emotion' that my Photo Journalism teacher would have been proud of. Let's just say Gabey wasn't having one of his angelic moments.  ;)

I really like how the instagram filter made the colors pop out!  It makes the slide seem more fun and his frowny face all the more stinky.  

On that note, or maybe not...

Another before-and-after.  This time of a more amenable subject.

While the double lip rolls on either side have always spoken to me, the instagram version is really soulful.  It takes, "Can I have a cookie, and have it delivered to my pillow?!" to a whole new level!

Next is a before-and-after that I took while we were walking in the vineyard yesterday evening.  Although we have only had about 4 drops of rain this spring, the vines are very vigorously growing.  Unfortunately they are also being attacked by killer aphids.  So we attacked back with some of our favorite glossy red aphid killers... Ladybugs.  I really love the change in mood that the filter from instagram gave this one.  I'm thinking of creating a bounty hunter poster with him to hang among the vines and scare the begeezers out of those aphids. 

Instagram has plenty of black-and-white filters, too.  It made this little lily take itself very seriously.  It may require therapy to return to the happy-go-lucky life it had before.  ;)

And finally, to round it out with my little assistant putting his watering can skillz to use.  I'm happy to say no plants were harmed in the making of these fun photos.  The same can not be said for aphids.  Ah-ah-A!!!!    If you want to have this kind of fun and make your pictures just a bit more fancy or whimsical or 'old school' then I highly recommend Instagram.  Fun will be had by all!

And a snippet of video to feed any Gabey addictions out there... ;)

How Now, Brown "Cow"(?)

 

I've been digitally rifling through some of my favorite photos and thought I'd trot them out here.

And it brought on an interesting Then:Now juxtaposition for me.  To start with we have a then of Ele, Zoe, and I during my final year in vet school.  That was then...

This is now.  At least for Ele it is.  She still likes to go out to visit the horsey.  She still gives me snarlys and inspires me with her ability to snooze at basically any time of day.  And she's still the Best Dog in America (at least in my heart).

This?  Now.  She still loves to rest and roll over.  It still makes me smile every time she does.  :)

This is also now.  This not only makes me smile, it makes my heart squeeze in the way that only your baby loving your best doggie friend can.

But that is also then, now.  Because that pic was actually taken, I think, 6 months ago now.  It just flabbergasts me how quickly my little Gabey grows up.

This was then.  Relatively speaking.  This was in the 25 seconds that Gabriel wore his Halloween costume which I spent 12 hrs+ sewing for him.  Regardless, he was the cutest baby dino in the world for those 25 seconds.

Speaking of wonderful thens...  This is another one of those memories that makes my heart squeeze and fill me up with joy.  We were able to take Gabriel to meet my Grandpoppy in January.  It is hard to describe how precious it was to have my little boy meet my Grandpoppy.  I just wish that Gabey could soak up all of the love and wisdom that Grandpoppy has, but he's simply too young.  So they giggled together.  Grandpoppy made faces and laughed and Gabriel laughed back.  And I will cherish that in my heart forever.

Now for a little more recent thens and nows.  We have begun our garden here at the Gallant Fox Vineyard.  The first here is about 4 weeks ago shortly after bud-break for our vines.

 About the time they came out I planted some potatoes.  These are red Kenniac and Yukon Gold.  A week or so after them I planted fingerling potatoes as well.  Some lovely ones with names like Purple Peruvian and La Ratte.  As it turns out, I'm not sure where the pic of now is, but imagine if you will (until I can find it) the mounds have now been scooped around little trunks and the plants spread across the rows in leafy abundance.  If I'm counting correctly, I should have about a month to go on them before harvest.  I can hardly wait to try them!

 I sent these cute little seed packets to my friend K in Dallas a few weeks ago to start her garden.  Our seeds are already in the ground and we have a lovely little stand of corn sproutlings as well as a multitude of different squash, a couple types of cucumber, a couple kinds of watermelon, a few beans, and some peas.  If we only could get a couple of rainy days things would be going like gang-busters.






These are the tomato transplants.  I started them in the house in early Feb and have now moved them all outside where they are very happy.  I learned from last year and every sunny day I could had them outside so they could gain strength in the wind before having to stand up to it all the time.  I also intentionally started with the dirt about an inch down in the transplant containers then once my seedlings were up about 2 inches I added dirt which allowed them to grow more roots along their stem and become even more secure.  We are learning great new tricks every season with this fun gardening adventure.








***Warning, mildly gruesome/icky pictures of my horse's leg wound, not for the faint of heart.***
Now if you carry on, it's all on you. ;)

This is a little old and a little new at the same time.  My horse, Zoe, got tangled in a fence and this is what it did to her leg.  Needless to say, as both a horse owner and a vet, I'm not a fan of barbed wire. Ugh.

This pic was actually about 2 weeks into her recovery.

 And that brings us to now.

This was today when I performed a skin graft on her wound.  It has taken a month to get the infection under control and a healthy looking bed of granulation tissue to grow across the wound.

This pic shows the prepared area on her lower abdomen/flank where I took the donor grafts and her wound on the front of her hock where I placed them.

 Here is the wound where I placed the grafts.  I did two kinds of grafts - a tunnel graft and a series of pinch grafts.  This is quite a tricky spot because of the motion of the joint which will likely disrupt the formation of connections of the grafts.  That's part of why I tried the tunnel graft.  I was able to suture the top of it to the nearby skin, but one of the areas where I attempted to tunnel it through was too delicate and fell apart.  Fortunately, the lower part held the skin I placed in it almost like a little pocket.  The pinch grafts you merely try to get to stay in little pockets made in the granulation tissue.

Here is what the flank/donor site looked like after I took the grafts and had begun closing them.  The long area was for the tunnel graft and the circles were the pinches I took.  Fear not!  The bumpy looking skin in an upside down u around the shaved area is an anesthetic block so she didn't feel a thing.

Now, here is what we have.  A nicely bandaged leg.  Crossed-fingers and a prayer.  I'll post again in 5 days when I remove the bandage.  The textbooks say there is about a 65% success rate in pinch grafting, so there's a chance, although under our sub-optimal conditions I'll be happy if any of them succeed.  

Sort of like life... To be continued... ;)  

****Blogger's note: I am actually a trained, licensed professional.  I am a veterinarian and do not recommend trying this at home.  Unless you are also a veterinarian, enjoy surgery, and have the misfortune of having a horse that like a horse tangled with a fence and lost. Then, by all means, try this at home. ;) But remember, the books left out all the blood, it will definitely get in your way. ****

Our Wild...flower Adventure

Gabriel and I decided that spring is springing and that means it is high time that we head over to the nearby Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center www.wildflower.org.

I loved (what seemed to me to be) the focus of the designers to highlight the harvest of water.  This was an aqueduct to a large stone cistern that greets you as you walk in.  The flow of water theme continues through all of the buildings and in shining metal holding tanks which hint at the desire to conserve every drop as the hill country steps off into desert not far west of Austin.

The Redbuds are in bloom which the bees and I think they are somewhere in the region of GLORIOUS!!  This tree had approximately 287 bees on it of various sizes getting their pollen on.  

The little cactus was to show C the name of one that he brought home and planted in our garden from a trip he took to El Paso.  It's special and that's all I'll say.

Speaking of special... Look at the little rascal who joined me on this nature adventure.  He is quite fascinated by water and this particular pool under the aforementioned Redbud had two other things he loves.  Bees and fish.  It was a real hit.  The hardest part (as always) was impressing upon him the importance of not splashing in the water.  It may also be noted that his reading comprehension of the signs requesting that you stay on the paths left something to be desired.

Here we are attempting to take a picture together.  Was this the best one?  Why yes, I think it was.  He is actually looking at the camera, not adamantly telling me, 'G'dooown!' nor wiggling nor slipping out of the frame unexpectedly at the last moment.  I get the feeling we won't be needing to foster a sense of independence and inquisitiveness in this little First Born.  ;)

Then we finished up at what might have been Mommy's goal in visiting the Wildflower Center on a mid March afternoon... the Bluebonnet field.  :)  That just makes me smile to think of the bluebonnets.  I remember how much I enjoyed my drive to school every spring day of vet school because Loop 2818 in College Station gives as incredible a show of bluebonnets as you will ever find.  A blanket.  A sea of blue.  A friggin' Halleluiah Chorus spread out in bluebonnets!  Can you tell I loved it?  It was one of the things I believe I thought of most when I reminisced about Texas while I lived elsewhere.  Good stuff.

And, yes, through diligence, creativity, nonsensical words/gestures/sounds, and a moment of Divine Benevolence, I did get what we might call the money shot.  ;)  A fantastic picture of my little fellow with the bluebonnets.  And not picking the head off of one of them.  That was not captured on film and only one part of maybe two flowers lost their lives in this Tejo-centered pursuit of the perfect spring bluebonnet picture.  

In case you've stuck with me this long, here's the really good stuff.  Gabriel has now said 2 different sentences (which as his unbiased mother, I think is fantastic and brilliant for a 17mo old).  Here is his second one caught on tape. (Or what would have been tape just a few years ago but is now some gobbledeygook combo of 0s and 1s but that doesn't make much of a cliche).

On a Roll...

Ok, so this is clearly remarkable.  I'm posting more than once a year.  Dipping my toe into these blogging waters and we'll see how she goes.

Kitchen tip #1 -

This may save my life, or at least 2 minutes in the near future which, let's be honest, sometimes feels like a life.  ;)

When making dry goods (bean soup, cookies, bread, etc), make two.

Yep that's it.

Make a second one, put it in a baggie, label with what it is or even what else to add to make the thing it wants to become.  And voila!  Less mess and less time in the future.

I've done this with pancakes and now my fav chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies and I think I'm in love.  Culinarily speaking, of course.

Hope that helps give you a stitch in time you might have otherwise lost.

:)  Maidofclay -and tonight covered in flour.

Annual or Perennial

I'm sad to say it appears that I've been remiss and not only did not follow through on last year's thought to post more often, it has now been over a year since I posted!

All I can say is Wow, how time does fly.

What has filled up the interim?  A little boy learned to crawl, then walk, then run and talk first with his fingers then with words.  Approximately 235 readings of the books "Goodnight, Moon." and "Guess How Much I Love You."  I think 3 haircuts for me (by someone else) and 4 haircuts for the boy given by me.  A garden that grew from seed then lived outside and produced a non-insignificant amount of sustenance for my family.  Reading bits and pieces of many books for me and completing 2.  Sadly only 2.  "The Far Pavilions" by I'm not sure who, and "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver.  A vineyard was planted, sprouted, grew vines to wires, grew grapes, and a small harvest was taken.  I was introduced to thepioneerwoman.com (I love her more than my luggage!).  A doggie gained 12 lbs then lost 7 which has lead to much improvement in her energy and breathing.  I returned to working part time in the veterinary world.  I healed some doggies & kitties and I helped families say goodbye to some others.  C returned to school and re-learned Calculus.  I remembered how thankful I am that I do not have to re-learn Calculus.  C built a rainwater collection system and horse shed.  And life generally went on.

Because that's what it does.

Now what am I looking forward to?  A new year.  A new attempt to run more often.  Learning to make mozzarella this year and maybe some other cheese.  Watching Gabriel explore the world and re-learning just how fantastic it is through the eyes of a toddler.  Putting in another garden and focusing even more on letting it sustain our family.  Re-learning what God tells us about how He loves us through the words of the Bible and putting that into action in my life so that Gabe grows up knowing that God intended us to love one another as He loves us.

And I guess that's really quite a lot for my plate so I should leave it at that.  We are given a tremendous opportunity to experience this amazing world and I look forward to experiencing whatever adventures we find ourselves upon.  Tally ho!

Not where I've been, but where I'm going

A friend has recently reminded me how nice it is to connect and share your thoughts, so I've returned to my blog and hope to be more faithful with it. As the year begins, I'm struck by thoughts reflecting on quite an eventful year and at my most grandiose casting a vision for the future. I look around my bedroom at the pictures that grace our walls and they are a great collection of countries around the world. Egypt, France, New Zealand, Austria, Oregon, New Mexico... and those were all just in the past two years. It has been eventful, but does it say something about me? I think it says I'm intrigued by the world out there. I want to see other places and experience the best our amazing world has to offer. Each place is different. There is beauty out there and I find God in that. I'm constantly amazed by what He has created. I love the moments where I'm struck by it and catch my breath in thankfulness that I get to be a part of such an incredible work of art.

I look forward to getting back out there in the world, but my times lately have been very much in one place. Our home. My days might be considered mundane of late, as a new mommy and housewife, but I really enjoy them. Looking at the soft fall of my son's cheek, seeing my husband reflected in his miniature features, the contented relaxation of his hand as he falls asleep, or the recognition in his eyes when he sees me squeezes my heart to a bursting point. What a blessing!

Yet as I putter around my home, I can't help but wonder what the future holds. I am at an amazing present, but this is not necessarily where I want to be in ten years. I would like to be in a small town. Somewhere where my husband can see snow each year and doesn't have to drive more than an hour to snowboard. I want both of us to be working as much as we want at jobs we enjoy. I want to see him fly again. Hopefully Gabe will be doing well in school and we will be reading to him every night or helping with homework and we will still pray over our meals each night as we eat together. Once a year I'd like to be going on a family mission trip, even if it is to another American town. I'd like to be better at finishing one project before beginning another and maybe have an organized closet. In the realm of the possible but not necessarily probable, I'd like to have written a book, the great american novel, not that I think it will be published, but I think it would be fun to try and I'd like to be more fluent in Spanish than I am today.

Who knows where we will be, but mostly I'd like to be there with my Jesus, my son, and the man who is my love. :)

Cardiac Unrest

I was struck by the realization the other day that the heart is the only muscle cell in the body that does not require rest. It cannot fatigue. Pumps for 60, 70, even 100 years without a stop. That's pretty amazing. It gives me life all day everyday! Here's a verse that says a lot about what God does for our heart and following that is a poem it inspired in me...

Ezekiel 36:25-26
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

eternal cardiac transplant
stone dead to pistoning flesh
pumping strength, life
indefatigable
cardiac muscle cannot fatigue
it does not have to rest
it cannot grow weary
most efficient,
perpetually active machine
does not strain or sprain
just keeps going
pushing life to the limits
the ends of my body
into the smallest knooks & crannies
the littlest finger
to take life out
return with waste & bring renewal
80,000 times a day, everyday
waking and sleeping
running a mile
counting change
without me ever telling it to
I receive life
from inside myself
through my heart
given by God
I find Jesus there.
Indefatigable.

My Father God

A few days ago a friend made me think by pointing out that I begin my prayers "Father God." I think that how people address God can tell alot about how they view him. I think I call him Father because it is both a term of endearment and love, but also because I feel protected & cared for by my Father in heaven. It may seem silly, but often when I'm praying to God I picture in my mind myself climbing up into the lap of a shining, smiling father seated on a big chair with glowing white robes as He gathers me into his arms.

God accepts us as we are, He just wants us to COME, even with whatever crap we've been rolling in. He says, "bring it
with you, I can handle even that." I was re-reading Zechariah Ch3 again today in church which is a vision of how God cleansed Joshua so that he could lead God's people. This is the same Joshua who crossed into the promised land and told his
people to take it b/c they had God on their side, and the same one who ultimately did lead his people into the promised land, and especially the one from Joshua Ch1 (esp v6-9) where God tells him repeatedly to be strong and courageous. Those were verses that I took to heart this summer when I went on a mission trip. God called us to be strong and courageous and He would lead us into the fray. The fun part is that He gives us the strength and the power, even when we don't think we can do it. And as it tells about in Zechariah, even an amazing soldier for God like Joshua came to Him in filthy rags that God cleaned up.
Satan was trying to destroy him, but God said no.

God had other plans.

poetry i.

2/28/06

You are fettered
by the lures of this world.
They've twined around your ankles
like a seductive voice
You are bound
by things that lie &
say they love you,
ideas that say they are easier
& people who say they are your friends

when in actuality;
they hate you,
they are harder & painful,
& they could hardly know you less.

They don't know your eye color,
much less the shape of your heart
the feel of your ideas & the strength of your values.

You need to free the man inside.
The one God created to be.
The lame man Jesus made to walk.
The blind one that has merely been
holding his lids closed.

He is a strong, courageous, joyful,
beautiful man made for an amazing
relationship with his Father.

& perhaps as he walks along
holding his Father's right hand,
one day he'll see there is a woman
holding his left hand.

A woman that captures your heart
because He captured hers.
She is beautiful only
because He is in her.
& that is what she will see
& love about you.

Your open eyes & the shape of your heart,
& strong values & the walking,
the walking you do with God.

_______________________________________
11/4/05
Retreat-

Sometimes I need to retreat
Its only You & me now
In a soft grass field at night
Light of a thousand pinpoint stars
tip my fingers and touch my heart
Living forest at the edge of awareness
calling out in the voice of crickets and rustling leaves.
Midnight blue reaches down, enfolding me
Are you laying right net to me
Breathing on me with early fall coolness
and crisp pine needles underfoot.
Your creation speaks to me, calls my name
tells me of your passion, for me.
And I retreat, withdraw, turn from myself
And you are there. You always were.
I see you now. I feel you now.
Love caresses me in midnight blue,
cricket song, pine tang, and the
still
bright
stars
reaching down to hold even my hand.

_____________________________
7/2/05

his eyes do not see

why

are his eyes closed
or merely looking away

is the blindness forever
or only for today

would a soft touch upon the lid
release the seal to clarity

or are they clamped tightly shut
because his mind has decided not to see

perhaps a soft breeze
or the offing of a blinding light
would allow him to look

to now see

me