Tropical Storm Hermine - Part One

Wow, was she an angry one!
She dumped well over 10 inches in my yard, in the last two days. My rain gauge only goes to 5 inches and by time I remembered to empty it, it was already overflowing, twice! The rain beat the land, the thunder shook the house and lightning was way too close. The dogs panted and coward and I was jumping out of my skin at every boom. Hubby slept through the whole thing Tuesday night. How? I don't know!!

Yesterday morning hubby said the whole yard was under at least 3 inches of water when he got up. By time I got up the standing water was only in one corner. I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood with my camera while the weather was still good. I was hoping to find the area that the lightning hit the previous night, the one that had me going through the house and shutting everything off. I didn't find it but I did find some other interesting things.

Never seen this flower before. It grows on a bush and is very delicate and at closer inspection it has a feathery quality to it.

Haven't seen this flower since early summer.

Found this fungus in my tree, never seen that before either but it sure is pretty.

Found these mushrooms in my mums!

I was walking along the road and in the distance I saw something in the road. As I got closer I realised it was a turtle. There was a truck coming and he wasn't moving fast enough. I put up my hands for them to stop or slow down as I ran out in the street and scooped it up. The older couple just smiled and waved. I stood there looking down at it in the grass, trying to figure out if it was lost or where it might be going. I surmised that it must have been swept away from the canal during the storm. So I walked him back to the canal and put him on the edge. I debated whether or not to leave him in the center of two canals and just when I made up my mind to do so, I reached down to pick it back up and in a flash he was down the embankment and gone in the water.


As I was heading back home, I spotted this unusual pile of twigs that was formed by the run-off on the road.

The water puddles were large and in charge of putting off some spectacular reflections.

Shortly after getting back home the storm raged again!
Part Two..tomorrow.

Walk With Me Through Lytle, Texas

When I come into town and turn on Main St. this memorial is the first thing I see.


Then the lovely gazebo and park bench area.


Directly across the street is this really neat looking building that is currently a parts and old farm equipment store.


A look up the street. I will be turning left at the second large mass of trees.


I have turned left off of Main St and I am headed to the railroad tracks. See those pillars there at the side of the street, those can be found through out the town. I don't know why, YET.


The railroad was at one time the center hub of the town. As you will notice all the older buildings face or at one time faced the tracks.


The building to the right used to be the Seed or Feed Dock (I couldn't tell exactly what it said).


This red building has me so intrigued as to what it used to be. As you can see it is nothing now, but still looks great!


This is a little strip of business which houses the newspaper I didn't know we had.


A little Barbacoa joint. I just think the building looks really neat. (if you don't know what barbacoa is...well, lets just say...I don't like it)


Across the street is a fabulous building that reminds me of an old bank OR some rich persons house. It is now the office of a Chiropractor, who I would love to go see! That is it below on the right.


The arches in those windows are stained glass. Very lovely.


This old building (I was told) used to be the jail. It was closed when I went by, the inside is just as appealing and I was hoping to get pics. Maybe next time me and hubby go there, it is his favorite store in the whole town.


These set of buildings seem to be the oldest and a great example of what I was saying about them facing the railroad tracks, they are currently used as the backs of the business's. As you can tell they are not kept up as well as a store front would be.


This has to be my favorite old building in the whole town. The bricks have so much character. To me, it looks like an old carriage house or stables.

Well, that was a short walk through the backside of Main St. and Adam's St. that flank the railroad tracks.

There is still more to come like the mill and the old church, just for starters.
I hope yall enjoyed the tour.

Walking with the grandsons

Yesterday I had my two youngest grandsons (from the ones that live the closest to me) for five hours. We started the day at the bright and early hour of 9 am. (Yeah I know not really early for yall.) The two bundles of energy showed up at Nana's house with a gleam in their eyes. I could hear the mental questions of.. What are we going to do first?
Tell Nana stories.
Drag out all of our toys.
Find out what Nana has for food.
Well they were all firsts, all at once!

This Nana, although having been up since 7am, thought she was prepared. The kool-aid was made, even an alternative drink (for those moments when you get..I don't want kool-aid anymore!).

An activity was planned (seriously, what was I thinking). Well, that didn't last long! They were done in less than 20 minutes! Well at least I got some new art for my fridge!




Okay Nana, think!
Turn on the Nick Jr. Okay so far so good. BUT come on Nana, you can't let them sit in front of the tv all day. Not good enough! Think harder!
Interruption in the thinking process...
I'm hungry! Yeah ME TOO!
I want a banana!
Split banana. I didn't want a banana! Not doing so hot Nana, only one kid happy.
Crackers! They always gobble up the crackers. 6 crackers a piece should hold them off for a while, RIGHT? WRONG!
15 minutes later, right in the middle of racing cars I want some more crackers! Nana's thinking.. My goodness I still haven't eaten yet and they already want more!
When the clock says 11 o'clock, then we can have some more.
Every five minutes...I think it might be on the 11. It's on the 11! How much loooongggggerrrrr!
6 more crackers a piece dished out. Happy for the moment.

Hello, Nana! You do realize you still have at least 3 more hours of entertainment to publish! Eureka, your most brilliant plan! Yes, a nature walk is perfect! It takes time and draws them away from the lure of boredom food.

You want to go for a walk?
A resounding YES! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Let the adventure begin!

First we discovered a very large trash can..Nana what is that called? A dumpster.
Then it was a tree..Nana what kind of tree is that? A palm tree.
Ohhh, looook at the little tiny sunflowers! Here Nana I picked this for you.

Nana!! Nana!! There are snakes everywhere! Grab a stick!


Nana!! Did you see that butterfly??

Nana!!! WHAT is THAT?? A donkey.
Nana, this is going to be a long walk.

Look at that hole! I wonder what lives in there?

Nana, is this dog friendly?

Look at the windmills!! Why are they different? Why is one going faster than the other?

Nana's little helper


Nana! Look a duck! Why is it in a pen?

Every tree giving some shade was a good chance to rest.




Do you think he is tired?

Finally back at home!

After refueling with lunch and sticking our faces in the A/C, there was more fun to be had.
We played ball, fixed the porch and harassed the neighbors cat!
Where's MY kitty? That is MY kitty! Come here kitty and let me take you to my house! (My house actually meant under the porch in the dogs pen)


WHAT A DAY!!!!