A Reprise

 

Urban deconstruction , a photo by ladyhildegarde on Flickr. My fave places are once-urban places that have been taken over by nature. Like this parking lot that is mostly not visible anymore.

Sunflowers blowing , a photo by ladyhildegarde on Flickr.

November sun flowers , a photo by ladyhildegarde on Flickr.

Fire depts. showed up , a photo by ladyhildegarde on Flickr. The fire depts. from Crowley, Rendon and Everman came. Even though it may look like the deep country here, I'm glad it's not. City services here are good. They used the hydrant outside our home, stayed all afternoon. There was even a police car and ambulance. At the beginning though watching the fire trucks drive right into the flames was terrifying. I realized how dangerous it really is. They did not hold back and hose it down. They jumped off the truck and went right into it. It was more stressful than I even realized at the time, still trying to take in all I saw yesterday. The only casualty was Nathan's tractor. The policeman said if we put new tires and belts on it it would probably be fine. It will be a while till he does anything with it, but I think he will go back to it in a while when the drought is over.

Over the fence , a photo by ladyhildegarde on Flickr.

Long fields of barley and of rye ... Shalott. On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by To many-tower'd Camelot; And up and down the people go, Gazing where the lilies blow Round an island there below, The island of Shalott. Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver Through the wave that runs for ever By the island in the river Flowing down to Camelot. Four grey walls, and four grey towers, Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott. By the margin, willow veil'd, Slide the heavy barges trail'd By slow horses; and unhail'd The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd Skimming down to Camelot: But who hath seen her wave her hand? Or at the casement seen her stand? Or is she known in all the land, The Lady of Shalott? Only reapers, reaping early, In among the bearded barley Hear a so...

Truly one of the most amazing shops I have ever visited. The Path of Tea was filled with incredibly kind (also calm) staff members and divine tea selections. I did not have my wish list with me, so I went on whim. The three of us shared a small pot of ginger white tea. We selected our preferred cups while the tea was brewed. Susan chose the celadon, Nathan the fish, and I was immediately drawn to the black and white design with a green rim. While we had tea, I mulled over my choices. One of my choices, White Chrysanthemum, was not available, so I ended up with something I had been drawn to but assumed it was not a white tea. A staff member recommended it to me, and that was how I found out it was a white. I chose Ancient Snow Sprout, Kyoto Rose and White Truffle Rooibos as my take-home loose leaf tea.

While we were waiting for the museum to open we stopped for a cup of tea at Hotel Zaza. First, we toured the lobby. "White" tea in the British sense. This was a very upscale hotel, in which every detail was exquisite (and a cup of tea cost $4). The porcelain cup was thin and delicate as paper.

My favorites: sweet potato gnocci spumoni

Location: Canyon of the Eagles

  On leaving Texas we stopped at a coffee shop. On its grounds lay remains of the past-an old gas pump, an Airstream, a junk car.     Chillicothe, Texas.

  From Anton Cemetery in Anton, Texas, close to the New Mexico border.

The sun burned the ground and my skin and the steel signs. It bleached all it touched, and the empty shells of buildings consisted of slender lumber that trembled in the wind like bones. On the ground before me a snake shuddered, the only inhabitant of this lonely place where the wind soughed through the buildings. In this place, we were as welcome as we were unwelcome.    I was standing on the very last stretch of Texas, but the buildings represented the style of New Mexico. The walls were between one and two feet thick, formed of clay, and as I stood on the threshold, a cold breeze drifted toward me. I could not tell anything about the debris in the buildings. I guessed-a cigarette machine, a gambling device? I know a little about what dwells on the outskirts of society. But whatever happened here I could not tell. Perhaps even fifty years was enough to remove all traces of recognition. What had once been a post office, and a laundromat, were piles of rubble fal...

We are resting after our day's drive to Amarillo. Today we stopped at an antique store in Quanah and later a coffee shop in Childress. I found five sewing patterns: a Gunne Sax wedding gown and bridesmaids' gowns, a Gunne Sax blouse and skirt, a secretary dress with variations, a sweater set variety and a Western blazer with puffed sleeves - which I would not normally have considered but the cut of it is quite innocent and sweet. I also got a porcelain powder ball with a yellow rose which looked just right for my dresser top. I think when I get home I am going to change its look to the perfume bottles on a mirror top, especially as I start collecting perfumes from the 1970's and 1980's (I think the dilapidation of the scent is romantic, but it is never a good idea to wear old fragrances due to the chemical decomposition). I am a little stressed that the Internet in our hotel is not working. Thus this post may be delayed. I have not reserved our hotel room in Santa...

I had this conversation 2X last week. "What are you doing this weekend?" "Well, we're having this sort of family reunion." "Where?" "It's in New Hope. Kind of near Jewett. uh, Mexia.? Halfway between here and Houston." They know where that is. "In a park or pavilion?" "No, actually it's in the cemetery!" "In the. what? Whoa." Yeah, I used to think everybody did something like this. This week I learned doing this is kind of different. Cool!   My dad and stepmother and husband. I'm not sure about this blouse. It's a vintage. I need to accessorize it a little better. Some chunky jewelry.   This is where it all started. Napoleon Bonaparte Story and his wife Elizabeth. We always, always go to their graves when we visit. They're at the very back of the cemetery.   Afterward we had pecan pie at Aunt Verlon's. It was so awesome. I just took it all in.

Last time we went to Jefferson there was a poor old nag parked outside of our hotel every day. Her skin sagged over her bones. She literally looked like she was going to die. I was upset by the sight of this poor old horse and eventually connected her with the sight of an old-fashioned moustached man sitting in our hotel lobby. Apparently, these were Liza Jane and Mr. Tom, respectively. When we were in the coffee shop I mentioned last post there was this little stone commemorating them. The reason it was important was because I was incensed by the sight of that pathetic horse. I thought she might be mistreated, but Nathan managed to persuade me that the 110 F temperatures were causing the Clydesdale some misery. I had already begun planning my campaign, http:// www.savelizajane.com , but I agreed reluctantly.     Well, while we were waiting for our ghost tour to begin, Nathan alerted me to the presence of a certain carriage in our vicinity, and I took this photograph of ...

We went canoeing for three hours on Caddo Lake near Jefferson. It was something we had not done since college, and it raised for me sweet feelings from the past. Canoeing was the only KINE I could take with any success. Now that I understand myself a little better, it makes perfect sense. Rather than disrupting or challenging, you are using your energy to transport yourself, quietly. Canoeing is useful and good. Things with balls or instruments that hit balls are bad.       It also reminded me of my oft-canoeing partner, who happened to be rowing with me, who is my husband, and I felt a deep sense of connection to my past with him.      This old boat was branded a Chrysler and looked like it was from the '70's. We liked that. I thought this house was interesting. It looks like a double wide and a single somehow connected together.   Welcome to eternity. Tonight my heart is sorrowing. I am thinking about marriage. I am thinking about ...