Montreal

The Olympic Complex

And the Botanical Garden.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Cockrell Butterfly Center  located in a 3 story glass structure which simulates a rain forest filled with tropical plants and living butterflies.

It is one of the many exhibits available at the HMNS and well worth the visit.

For more details :

http://www.hmns.org/

Market day for Grand-Mère

 An ecologist shopping at the outdoor market in Paray-le-Monial last August.

Perfect hairdo: ✓, sensible make-up ( most likely ) : ✓, classic jewelry: ✓, sheer panty hose: ✓, 

 slingback shoes : ✓,

vintage bike : ✓, antique paniers : ✓, duct tape ; ✓

extra basket with bungee cord : ✓,

a cool grandma on her way home to cook a delicious meal : ✓✓✓

More Robins

Two weeks ago a second family of robins decided to nest on one of the house ledges. This time the eager family chose the east side of the house and within three days the parent(s) had built a brand new nest.

The last nest was built this Spring on the west side of the house unnoticed by us and we watched the  eggs add up, hatch, the chicks grow and cautiously spread their wings. Out of four eggs, on Easter Sunday  two hatched and after 15 days two beautiful robins found the courage to try their flying skills.

This time the nest is visible from the den but harder to monitor requiring a long ladder and some acrobatic moves to document the progression of the process. Well you guessed it, I could not wait any longer and had to see how many eggs were in the new nest.

 For those interested Stan Tekiela's Birds of Texas Field Guide states that " both male and female build the nest and have 2- 3 broods per year. They have 4-7 pale blue eggs without markings. The female incubates the eggs for 12-14 days. Fledging lasts 14 to 16 days during which both male and female feed the young. "

 " The males have a dark, nearly black head with a brick red breast. The female has a gray head, a dull red speckled breast and a brown back. "

A Creative Spirit

 This Dutch gentleman has found a creative way to express his photographic talents.

" The rules are simple " he says. " I put the self timer on 2 seconds, push the button and try to get as far from the camera as I can. " For more daring pictures visit his blog at http://runningfromcamera.blogspot.com

School Art

The painting of the mustang is a banner created by the Conroe Independent School District art students as part of a banner for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It now hangs from the McCullough 2nd floor walkway overlooking the school commons. Last year the students had created a Longhorn which was equally spectacular.

Each tile is on a 18" by 18" square of art paper.

One of our art teacher who is also the 7th/8th grade Visual Art Facilitator at McCullough Junior High chooses a famous piece of art and cuts it in 2" by 2" blocks. She then mails them out to art teachers all over CISD with an 18" by 18" piece of paper. Art students reproduce each original square on the paper with the medium of their choice and mail it back to her. After the Western Art Show is over the piece is brought back to McCullough where it hangs.

Thank you to Cindy Moss and all the CISD art teachers and students for a yearly showcase !

Gardenias & Figs

Dusk, thunderstorms moving in,  gardenias looking so bright through the window...

 Any idea on what kind of bug this is ? 

A gift from my mom, last year in a planter, transplanted this winter. I think we may have a crop... if the squirrels stay away...