1. A game of thrones by George R.R. Martin
2. The curious gardener by Anna Pavord
3. Zeitoun by David Eggers
4. How the government got in your backyard: superweeds, frankenfoods, lawn wars, and the (nonpartisan) truth about environmental policies by Jeff Gillman & Eric Heberlig
5. An absolutely true diary of a part-time indian by Sherman Alexie
6. A storm of swords by George R.R. Martin
7. They came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie
8. Scat by Carl Hiaasen
9. Corduroy Mansions by Alexander Maccall Smith
10. The dog who came in from the cold by Alexander Maccall Smith

The day we drove back a cold fog developed which settled on everything in a thick frost. The fog eventually turned to snow. Much of the country we drove through was still suffering from extreme drought, particularly parts of southwest Kansas. It was very sad, even the yucca had lost their leaves.

We picked all of the baby pac choi, it was delicious, my daughter says it tastes like peas. It isn’t actually “baby” either, just a small cultivar which I didn’t thin.

October

My daughter’s heifer had her baby calf. They did seem to want to go out to the pasture for a few days.

Look what my art class made!

Crazy hair day

We drove out into the pasture for no particular reason. The cows were curious so they followed but the grass was tall and we were faster. They haven’t yet figured out where we went.

“Aha! There they are! We will investigate. They might have something tasty for us.”

“What are you doing? Do you have something to eat? Can I lick you?”

“Seriously. Can I lick you?”

My dad’s favorite dog, Zonkers, died. She was a corgi, his cow dog. Skippy was in his phase of trying to be a cow dog to take her place. He quickly realized that chasing bunnies and rats is more exciting and returned to terrorizing the local vermin. He is a terrier, after all, he can’t help himself. Sitting in the back window of the truck is probably the most fun part of being a cow dog for him.

Halloween! This is my favorite picture from 2012. The dogs didn’t like the costumes but they loved the attention they received from everyone. They were the only dogs we saw trick-or-treating. More than one person, after gushing over the dogs said “oh, and you’re daughter is cute, too.”

November

I visited my boyfriend who lives in San Marcos, Texas. Since I’m a librarian, I had to visit the library at Texas State U. which had several pirate-themed displays. I also got in trouble for taking pictures in the gallery. Yea, me!

On the Texas State’s campus, beautiful baldcypress trees. My favorite tree.

My laundry-loving dog, Pepper, is having a great day. She has a laundry fort to nap in!

Mmmmmmmmmm, laundry. Socks are good pillows.

The Flint Hills in the morning

December

A few things I didn’t manage to post during December Photo Project.

First time at the skate rink this winter.

Christmas pageant. She stood like this the whole time, it was all I could do to keep from laughing.

The littlest angel and the littlest shepherd

And that is it for 2011

August

Here’s my townhouse yard in early August. Lots of leaves, not many flowers.

“Cooking” ice cubes. We took advantage of the curiously cheap organic raspberries ($1 a box!!) to make raspberry mint cubes. They were great in water or lemonade.

The Supertunia petunias I bought as an Easter gift for my parents.

After years of not being able to use their front door, my parents have a new deck!

The railing is old wrought iron from my great-grandparents farm.

Priscilla and Skippy are having a good day.

Best buddies.

September

The community garden at sunrise.

Interesting objects in a garden.

Dewy asparagus

“

When I run out of money, make the kid play for some change.

(That’s a joke for you humor-free folks.)

This is what happens when you are too busy to garden and ignore your watermelon, they explode! KABOOM! Five of ‘em! I never have to buy watermelon seed again. I’m sure they’ll be coming up all over everywhere next summer.

Finally, some flowers in my back yard. They took forever and a day, yeesh!

And the Chilly Chilis finally have fruit!

My pots never turn out quite like I planned them. I should know better by now, alternanthera (the purple-leaf monster) is a giant.

June

Two front teeth?

Her first try at soccer, she loved it!

I visited New Orleans for a conference, we ate at Antoine’s. This was my dessert. I love custards!

Coffee at Antoine’s, I didn’t have any but it was sure fun to watch them make it.

St. Louis Cemetary #1, it is about to storm.

Here is an oleander in the cemetery, it is one of the many southern plants that I miss.

Rain lilies, such a nice surprise!

I also adore crepe myrtles.

Some cultivars will make it through the winter where I live but they die back to the ground, never developing the beautiful bark that you see on older crape myrtles.

Just a post rain storm picture that I like.

The sunflower house in my community garden plot. It turned out well but my daughter wouldn’t go in it because there were too many bees. What kind of nonsense is that? Too many bees?! I’ve failed as a mother.

July

I didn’t take many pictures in July so there’s really nothing more to say.

April

A visit to the bug zoo, notice where she has her money.

Species tulips match so nicely with the dandelions, I totally planned it that way

This was the most exciting day of my dog Pepper’s life. A young squirrel with a death wish kept fearlessly running back and forth across the top of the fence taunting her all afternoon. He definitely wasn’t the world’s most coordinated squirrel, he looked like he was going to fall every single time. During one of his “breaks” he stood right on the other side of the fence with his tail flopped over the top, chattering away. I totally missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pull a squirrel’s tail, instead I took a picture.

May

Flint Hills rock, not long after a burn

Take my picture, mom!

Done!

This was a sad day. We went on a hike at Konza Prairie and noticed that the oldest tree there, an oak, had died. It was ~150 years old.

Waiting in line for the Lime Truck during The Great Food Truck Race.

Look at all those people!

For Mother’s Day. It is a picture of the two of us, our dogs and some baby birdies.

More pictures from Yellowsone. This is one of the paint pots.

Yellowstone on a lovely day.

My parents had several visitors to their place. Ultimately, they escorted two raccoons and three opossums off the property.

January

My daughter sledding with her favorite kitty Fuzzy aka Wuzzy

It was a bad winter to be born for my dad’s calves, he lost a couple to the weather. He would bring the newborns in and set them in the calf warmer (the blue thing) to keep them from freezing. It was a lot of fun for my daughter and the dogs but not so much fun for my dad or the calves mommas.

February

My daughter’s art was displayed at the museum.She was really proud!

Driving up my parents’ drive on a foggy winter day. Yes, I take pictures while I’m driving.

A scene from a scary movie?

March

I blogged everything I intended to blog in March (what a concept!) so I have nothing more to add about that month.

1. Abominable snow dog wants in
2. Wee baby plants
3. Wine box garden – Step Three
4. December 9 – Two years
5. Red Feather Lakes
6. Wine box gardening FAIL
7. I love lettuce-leaf basil
8. The pot on the counter top
9. Mammoth Hot Springs
10. UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Test from new tablet

……..More

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