Wildflower Pictures 4-25-2011



Jerry Frye with son, Alexander Frye
@ Texas State Veteran's home, Temple, Tx
Picture taken 3-10 when Alexander was home on
leave from Afghanistan.  He next posted to Belguim.
Jerry is Marie's brother.

 

Prairie grass blowing in wind 4-11



BlueBonnets 4-11  Picture taken on Marie's property
@ Lake Belton, Tx-Moffat

Indian Paintbrush  4-11
Picture taken @Lake Belton,Tx on Marie's property
at Moffat, Tx



Indian Blanket or Fire Wheel 4-25-11
Pic taken on Marie's property @ Lake Belton area
Tried to figure out how to rotate but could not do it.



Prairie Grass blowing in wind with bluebonnets in background,
cedars on Marie's property at Lake Belton,Moffat area
Texas



Snow Day 2-4-11  Picture taken of VA grounds from
WR Courtney Texas State Veteran's Home, Temple,Tx



Jerry Frye- Snow day 2-4-11
Marie's Brother @Texas State Veteran's home.
He is severely handicapped & cannot bring legs to
a sitting position.


I had promised some wildflower pictures , took me a while to figure out how to do this as I am not used to posting yet. 
Posted pictures of my brother for some personal friends.  He was paralyzed from the waist down due to a major staf infection he contracted in late 2008 and almost died when it was discovered 3-09 by the Dallas VA hospital.  He had a scratch that he received working at Kroger grocery store, Ft. Worth, Tx and did not take care of it.  It was in the middle of his lower back and thought it would be ok.  Just goes to show you really need to clean up any scratches or something like this could happen.  Dallas VA gets nothing but praise from me over this situation.  Two Harris Methodist hospitals supposedly did not find the MRSA infection which is still hard for me to believe.
He was very depressed the first 6 months but then learned to accept the situation even though it was hard.  His VA home  says he is a social butterfly, ha, ha and I am thankful for the way he has adjusted and accepted his life as it is now.  He will never walk again.  He served 1 year in Vietnam and rest of  Air Force time, state-side.  He says he is thankful I can help care for him and see to any needs he
has, either medical or personal.  He was divorced 2 years prior to this situation and has a 21 year old daughter at Bedford, Tx  and a son, 23 years old who is in the Army .  They both see him when they can.
Here is some websites to look at on wildflowers:
texaswildflowerpictures.com
lone-star.net/wildflowers
aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed
wildseed farms.com---they sell wildflower seed
Hope everyone enoys the pictures and has a great day today. Also want to welcome Charlotte as a
follower to my blog, glad to have you on board . Charlotte, I have been working on a quilt for over a year now and almost have it cut out, then I can start sewing.  It is one of those patch quilts that you stitch all layers in rows with batting in between and then it is done.  The seams are stitched facing up.
Forgot to mention, the bluebonnets are all gone due to too much heat.  We are now consistently having 90 degree plus and no rain in sight. So dry now it is scaring everyone here due to fire danger. Wildfires still burning in NW Texas.  I guess it will end up burning 2 million acres or so.

Have a safe day everyone.  Our Easter day was good but exhausting.

Love In Christ,

Marie

Texas News

Hello everyone and a Happy, Blessed Easter to all.

Wildfires now have been consuming the land in Texas the last 3 weeks and still are going.  They have consumed 1 million acres, 150 homes, and 3 churches.  So sad for the people who lost their homes, just hope they all had fire insurance.  So far in our area which is Bell County, have not had any fires on land.  We  had 2 major businesses go up in ashes, one in Temple, and one in Belton.  The one in Belton was off Interstate IH-35 highway yesterday and the Interstate had to be shut down for 2 hours due to the smoke being so thick. All but 2 of Texas counties have  wildfires and they say they are the worse  in 50 years.  Texas has 254 counties and I live in one of the largest.  Ft. Hood stopped shelling due to the fire danger so it has been quiet lately with no booming.  Both business fires are currently under investigation and the one in Temple had to burn it self out due to the laminate that was stored in the building.  We have Wilson Art Headquarters here in Temple, a major laminate manufacturer.
Hope everyone has a nice Easter.  I will have dinner at my house for family and friends.
I will do most of the cooking on Saturday so when I get home from Church, will just have to heat and serve.
My Aunt Lois came this Wednesday from Ft. Worth to see my brother Jerry at the VA home here in Temple.  Had a busy day and she brought small gifts for all of his aides and nurses.  One of his nurses had come to me last week wanting to know about some hand lotion I had given her at Christmas in a small pot.  I told her, I make it up from a recipe given to me by a friend.  I gave her the recipe and so I post it here for you who read this blog also. Makes a nice, reasonable gift for occasions.  I get small jars from Dollar Tree, Dollar store or Walmart.  Place the lotion in the jar and tie a decorative ribbon with label onto the jar. If you can get the baby lotion in scents, would be nice, but so far here in my area they do not sell scented baby lotion just the regular and I buy the most reasonable brand.  Hope you all enjoy it, most people love it.

Hand/Body Lotion Recipe

8 oz Vitamin E Cream
8 oz Baby Lotion
4 1/2 oz Vaseline

Mix all above in a large mixing bowl and package in decorative jars with label.

We still have not had any rain and it is really getting dry now.  I want to post some wildflower pictures maybe next week.
Finally received my books I had ordered from Discovery House Publishers-RBC Ministries yesterday. Had ordered them 3-29-11.  I called them last week and they said they were swamped with orders because the books were $1.00-$2.00 and were behind on shipping due to the volume. Very happy with what I ordered and have already read half through one book, "Teach Us To Number Our Days," by David Roper.  He is a very good author of christian books

Well I must get off and get busy. Have a blessed and safe Easter.  Thank God our Saviour died for lost mankind, rose again and is seated at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf.  It is only right we honer Jesus at this time of year and not an Easter bunny.  Just wish more people would realize who He is and accept Him as their Saviour.

In Christian Love,
Marie

An Interesting Story & News

Hi everyone,
Told you in an earlier blog about Dora Henderson who died.  I have something interesting to tell you about her life.  She was married 2 times and her first husband was Charles Bartlett.  His father's name was E.M. Bartlett who wrote the song, "Victory In Jesus," in 1939.  He received $5.00 for it from Stamps Baxter Music Co. and they still own the song.  Charles received royalties from the song after his father died.  Then after Charles died, Dora received  royalties even after marriage to Rev. Henderson.  This song is always requested for songbooks.
The wildfires have continued in Texas with 252 counties having them.  Down by Austin, a homeless man started a campfire which burned down 60 homes.  We  had about 100 homes burned so far and no rain in sight.  So sad for people to lose their homes.  One man on a ranch below Possum Kingdom lake lost his ranch house and he had just finished redoing the house.  Oklahoma also had many wildfires. I went to the Sportman's dinner on Saturday and we were talking that we hope no one starts any fires here around Lake Belton as we have lots of cedar and it would go up fast.  We had a burn ban for the last 3 months.
I have started reading the Martyrs Mirror book and am just on the introduction to the book which explains church history.  I think I will be a year reading this book as it is so large.
Lots of people out Sunday taking pictures in bluebonnet fields.  They will not be around much longer.
It will be in the 90's today in Central Texas.
We had Bruce Martin, missionary to Honduras and Mexico in our church services at A.M. services.  For the next 5 months, he will be involved with translating the Bible into Saltow Indian language along with some help from Wyclief Bible translators and their software.  The Indian pastors will be helping with guidance from Bruce.  These people have their own dialect with no Bible in their language.  Bruce grew up on the Mexico mission field when his parents were missionaries there.  They are Milton and Frances Martin.  Bruce and his wife will be living in the Chiapas region.  we all pray they will be safe.  His father when he was a missionary there was attacked many times , but the Lord kept him safe.  Bruce flys airplanes as did his father.  The Lord has used him in  a mighty work on the mission field. Praise God for all His blessings in lives that are used to help other people.
Well, I will get off.  Just wanted to share that story about Dora as I think it is so interesting.  My favorite hymn writer is Fanny Crosby who wrote about 8000 gospel hymns.  I often think it would be something to see them all but would require a lot of reading like the book I am reading.  I do not think a gospel hymn writer has written as many as Miss Fanny.  At least I have never heard of anyone who wrote more.
Have a good day and be safe. Keep Christ in your life and you will have a wonderful life.
In Christian Love,
Marie

Texas Happenings 4-16-11

Hi Everyone,
We had a Texas cool front blow in Friday with some rain so yesterday only in the 70's which was nice. Temple,Tx is having a Blooming Temple Festival this weekend to celebrate the return of the wildflowers. Temple is the Wildflower Capital of Texas.  Saw Indian Paintbrush on my property for the 1st time yesterday.  Charlie Daniels is having a concert tonight for the festival.
We are in a high fire alert situation in Texas. A 2500 acre fire is currently burning SW of Ft. Worth at Possum Kingdon Lake with homes burned.  That smoke blew in Friday to our area due to 40-50 mph winds blowing south.  You could breathe the smoke and our blue skies turned smoky light gray. And then we had a major fire in Temple at a recycling center which they will just have to let it burn it self out.
Next month Temple will have a air show, May 6th-8th at our local small airport. It is usually a good show.
Check on it at centraltexasairshow.com if anyone is in the area.
I am one of 3 cooks cooking for our monthly Sportsman Club meeting tonight. We fix the main menu item, Chicken Spaghetti and the rest of club members bring salad,veggies,bread, and dessert.  Good potluck.
My husband went today to the funeral of the woman I told you about in an earlier blog that she was going to die on Monday.  Her name is Dora Henderson .  So he is in Wichita Falls,Tx today.  I did not know the lady and I had to cook  for tonight.  Our club has a inside/outside fishing dock on Lake Belton.
Finished a book about Andrea Yates who drowned all her 5 children in a bath tub in Houston, best one I have read on her crime.  It is "Are You There Alone-The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates" by Suzanne O'Malley.
Been listening to Selah-Press On CD-a lot of good songs.  This group grew up in Africa because their parents were missionaries there.  I especially like the songs they sing in African language. Like one song best one  called, "In My Life/If We Never Meet Again", think of my son who died  when I play it. I thought you would enjoy the lyrics by John Lennon, Paul Mccartney:
                There are places I remember
                All my life, though some have changed
                Some forever and  not for better
                Some are gone and some remain

                All these places have their moments
                With people and friends I still can recall
                Some are dead and some are living
                But in my life, I loved them all

                But of all these friends and loved ones
                There is no one compares with you
                And these memories lose their meaning
                When I think of love as something new.

                Though I know I'll never lose affection
                 For people and friends that went before
                 I know I'll often stop and think about them
                 But in my life I loved you more.
       
Then Albert Brumley's song-"If We Never Meet Again"
                  Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey
                  And perhaps we'll never meet anymore
                  Till we gather in heaven's bright city
                   Far away on that beautiful shore.

                   If we  never meet again this side of heaven
                   As we struggle through this world and its strife
                   There's another meeting place somewhere in heaven
                   By the beautiful river of life.

                   Where the charming roses bloom forever
                   And separations come no more
                   If we never meet again this side of heaven
                   I will meet you on that beautiful shore.

There are many people I will never see again in this life and that always makes me very sad, especially my dear son.
Hope everyone who reads has a good safe weekend. God be with you till we meet again.
Marie

              


                

            

Just News-4-13-11

Hi Everyone,
Went back to my water aerobics class today Wed. after an absence of 3 weeks due to having an upper respiratory infection received from spouse. Was good to get back and see everyone I exercise with.  One lady drives from Stephenville, Tx which is 70 miles NW of Temple, she comes 3 days a week and I sometimes complain about my 12 miles when I go.  She mentioned a post in The Temple Daily Telegram on the front page which was a sign posted in Milam County on a ranch that said,"Prayer Is The Way To Meet The Lord, "Trepassing Is Faster", LOL. We all got a laugh out of that saying.
Milam County has been having a crime wave.  The post in the Telegram is on Rural Crime and can be viewed at http://www.tdtnews.com/, front page.

Nice morning today, started at 60 degrees and will heat up to 85 today.  Our small rain helped the BlueBonnet crop and more sprouted so now we have more fields of blue but still skimpy. Will plant some plants in my vegetable garden today.
In a magazine, Ladies Home Journal I read, the stars are brightest in 3 places in U.S.  They are Pearce, Arizona in the desert east of Tucson;  Hill Country,Texas at Burnet, Texas which has a private observatory with 2 giant telescopes, this is near Lake Buchanan and the other place is Wyalusing, Wisconsin State Park, 2 hrs. west of Madison. So check out the articles if you are interested in star gazing.  Here where I live near Lake Belton, we can easily see the stars because we are 12 miles west of Temple so their lights do not interfere.
We have another lake in our area between Belton & Harker Heights, it is Lake Stillhouse.  Both lakes provide the water supply here and also to many towns downstream.
Lake Belton borders far west on Ft. Hood (Army) property.  Ft. Hood has started some shelling which will shake our house.
Another book I recently finished was, "Amish Grace" from our library. Very good book and explains about the Amish-Memmonite faith which comes from the AnaBaptists.  They mentioned a book there so you guessed it, I had to order it from Amazon as it was the only way I could read it. It is a very large book," Martyrs Mirror" by Thieleman J. van Braght.  Will take me a long time to read it, has 1141 large pages.
All the Amish-Memmonite people read it as part of their instruction.  They had the movie on TV before I got the book from the library.  Amish Grace is about the school house shootings which really shocked everyone in the U.S.  We have Memmonite communities in our area.
Gas prices here are $3.51 gal and go up every 5 days or so.  Guess we will have $4.00 gal gasoline prices by summer.  Sure looks that way right now.  Oklahoma has taken the ethanol from their gas pumps, wish Texas would do the same.  We hate ethanol here as it reduces gasoline mileage and will corrode your gas tank.  We have a newer truck and we have to really watch the gasoline/ethanol mix as it came with a warning to not use over a certain percentage.
Well, that's all my news.
Till next time, may the good Lord keep you in His care.
Marie

Rain!!!!!!!!!!

We got rain last night 4-11-11.  I woke up around 4:00 A.M., thought it was the AC coming on, listened and it was rain coming down on my metal roof, such a great sound.  Rained off & on for about 1 hour, we got 1/2" , not a lot but better than nothing.  For 2 weeks our area had been having the West Texas dirt blow in on us.
You almost had to cover your face sometimes. I had started praying for rain and praise the Lord, He answered I am sure many prayers.  Hopefully we will get some more around Thursday this week.  It was a glorious cool 60 degrees around 10:00 a.m. and bright sun shine day. God is so good to us.  Wish most of the world knew His Son and all about Him.
I have finished my book, "90 Minutes In Heaven", by Don Piper,  it was a wonderful book.  The best book I have ever read on someone dying and coming back.
The person really did not want to live after the experience.  I often think about Lazarus, I wondered if he remembered anything.  Just think, he had to die twice.
Most of the books I read about people dying and coming back always mention animals
in Heaven and people having wings.  No where in the Bible have I found regular people having wings nor animals in Heaven.  In Ecclesiastes 3:21, says that the spirit of the beast goes down to the earth and the spirit of man goes upward.  This is a very in sightful book to read written by Solomon.  In Revelation I find no people with wings.
One time I wrote a review on Amazon about someone who written a book about going to Heaven, they saw animals and people with wings and of course angels.  I said there was no such thing  as animals in Heaven and people having wings, just angels.  A person wrote me blasting my review, told me how can you say that, you have never been to Heaven.  I said, No, I have not been there but I know what the Bible says.  You know Satan can make a person see anything even angels. Some people even do not know that not all angels have wings and can appear on earth looking just like you and me.  The Bible says to be not forgetful to entertain people who come by your house because some have entertained angels though they had no idea.  One time an old bum came by our house wanting something to eat,  we fed him and we have no idea if he was an angel or not.
Most bums want money but this man was happy to have a great meal. I do not like to give bums money as they usually use it to buy drugs or alcohol.
Just had bad news, a minister friend of my husband's 2nd wife was given 2 months just 2 weeks ago to live because cancer was found when they operated on her gall bladder.
We got the call today, she will die today.  So sad, so quick.  I guess at least she will not have to suffer with the cancer.  My Aunt Kay died a slow, lingering, and painful death from cancer. She was my favorite Aunt and I have really missed her.
Well, I guess I will get off and get on with my day.
Hope everyone who reads has a blessed and wonderful day. 
Marie

April 9, 2011 trip

Went to  Baylor University today to the Armstrong Browning Library to  the King James 400th year anniversary special exhibit.  The campus is really a beautiful place with many very old live oaks,magnolias and cedar trees.  The campus sits near the Brazos River .  The library is a beautiful place inside, worth it just to go inside and look at the beautiful stained glass windows & how the building is built inside. Lots of marble & wood.  Dr. Armstrong had met the son of Robert Browning in 1909.  After that meeting, for 40 years he collected anything pertaining to  Robert & Ellizabeth Barrett Browning.  This libary has the largest collection in the world.  So if you ever come through Waco, Texas, stop in at Baylor and see this wonderful collection.
As to the King James Bible collection, there were many, many old Bibles, manuscripts, inkwells and lots of other items to see.  We saw an original 1611 King James Bible, it was very large.  I could read most of it except for some words in old English which I had no idea what the word was.  They also had a Guttenberg Press with demonstraton which printed 2 pages at a time.  We saw papers-original from Tyndale, Martin Luther,
Guttenberg Bible, Henry VIII, Thomas More, Syrian Bible and a new original King James 1611 edition.  Lots of wonderful drawings and artwork.  They said the exhibit is traveling through the United States for exhibit so it if comes to an area near you, it is well worth going to see. One large original Bible took one scribe to write 20 years.
Many of the Bibles were small and handwritten.  I said it is a wonder someone could write so small.  Also saw original Hebrew Bibles and writings, all very interesting.  Would have stayed as long as I could but my husband is always in a hurry.
This was the last day of the 3 day exhibit here.
Well, we are getting very hot & dry here in Central Texas, have had to run the AC for the last 3 weeks off and on.  Today in the 90's, it feels like middle June already and it is only April. No rain on the horizon, Lake Belton dropped 1 foot in lake water yesterday so by June, we will have water rationing.  Have had many grass fires already and some structures and 1 house burned.
Well, that's the news for this day.  Will be back when I can.
Put Christ in your life , you will never be sorry. Also read your Bible everyday, I do. I read with Radio Bible Classes-Daily Bread which is free from them if you write them, also known as RBC Ministries.
Take care everyone and have a great weekend.
Marie

Trying to figure out Blogspot!!!!!!!

Well I am still trying to figure out Blogspot and how to post pictures as I eventually want to post some pictures. Now I am going to try to post a picture after viewing the Blogger tutorial. Well I did it, added the snow we had on the Bluebonnets several years ago, was really coming down in this picture. Now I know how to post pictures.
Went out today 4-8-11 and took pictures of current bluebonnet crop, not a lot due to no rain.  Took pictures of small amount of prairie grass blowing in the wind, it is a light pink/purplish color, also a few Indian paintbrush,  we do not have  many of them.
Very hot, dry and windy today here in Central Texas.  Will pray for rain!!!!! We have an old plow on top of the dirt.
Marie

April Days

Well, April 2011 is here.  Today is 4-7-11 and the Bluebonnets have finally popped out but not a large crop.  We are in a drought, so no rain for 2 months and they need lots of rain .  Two years ago, we had snow on the bluebonnets which some said had never happened.  I do have pictures as it was so unusual. Went to see my brother Jerry today at the Texas State Veterans home which is on VA property in Temple, TX, he is partially paralyzed from the waist down with his legs & feet sticking out in front.  He  is frozen in time so to speak.  He was glad to see me and introduced me to the nurses aides who have been training at the home the last 3 weeks.
They are from Central Texas College, Killeen, Tx.  His home there is so nice and any vet can apply as well as their wives if needed.  Some couples are there together even though just one needs the care.  We have a nice VA facilty here in Temple with hospital, clinic and soon to be a critical care facilty for the Vets.  It is a busy place.  We also have a A&M doctor training program here through the large Scott & White hospital we have.  Central Texas is a beautiful place to live with Temple to shop in.  Temple has a great library and Internet assess as well as books to download for computer to read & then return.  Never tried it yet so do not know how it works.
We are having revival week at our church so I am busy, my husband is pastor of College Heights Bapist Church, Temple on 5th street.  The evangelist is Wayne Hudson from Azel, Tx, really can tell some great Texas stories about when he was growing up.
Our church is looking for a new pastor, though, we keep praying about it.
Temple is the smallest town 65,000 with a Sam's Club because Drayton McLane owns a lot of stock in Walmart, supplies their stores with his large business.  We got the Sam's Club because of him.  Killeen has to come shop in Temple and I see a lot of military there.  Killeen has the largest army base in the world and we are very much military here in our area. Had a surprise at Sam's Club today, first I had ever seen, they are remolding the store and had a super dupper restroom trailer to the side of the exit door.  Each men-women side I guess had 4 closed stalls as that was what was on the women's side with 1 sink and it was very nice. It was really nice.
Got a pizza cooked for supper at Sam's, will have cheese sticks with sauce from freezer with it.  Told the lady when I ordered it, I always have problems cooking the pizza at home, she said not to go by box but put oven on 300 degrees, after warming up, place pizza on top shelf and cook till cheese is melted, said it does not take long. Really did not weant to rush today and cook.  Usually I cook 5 days a week for my husband, myself and my oldest son, Sam.  Then on Sat.--rehash day, Sunday is eat out day after church at a restaurant.  My husband and I are pretty healthy because we do not eat a lot of junk food.  He is very partial to Ice Cream though, more than me. HEB specialty ice cream came out today with Poteet Strawberry, so good.  Pottet strawberries are simply the best in the world due to where they are grown.
Well, I guess I had better end .  Hope everyone has a great week-weekend.  We are going to try to go to Baylor-Waco on Saturday as they are having a King James bible exebit celebrating 400 years of the KJV Bible, something to look forward to.
Take care everyone,
Marie