At Considerable Cost

Here in our part of Texas, when spring rolls around, you'll see cars pulled over on the sides of interstates and highways.   Whole families will be wearing meticulously coordinated outfits and babies will be red-faced by their attempts to tell parents how displeased they are with the present situation.   Cameras are at the ready and parents will either climb into a vehicle with a satisfied smile or with an exasperated sigh, depending upon the results on their cameras.   It's all part of bluebonnet season and as an outsider, a Texas newbie even after sixteen years (16 years?!?), I still get excited by the sudden explosion of brilliant blues and vibrant red and oranges that blanket pastures and roadsides.   Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush are in bloom!   Grab a camera!   Find a good patch of blooms!   Everyone smile and look happy, darn it! We were a little late, so the blooms were starting to fade. ...

The past few weeks the girls have had some fun events at school. YE OLDE GOODE TIMES Emmeline had a Medieval Fair at the conclusion of a social studies unit.   She worked at the Illuminated Letters table at the classroom fair.   I was so proud of how well she handled her duties and the way she talked easily with those who visited the table.   She's grown so much this year. HOWDY! In our area of Texas, schoolchildren celebrate the Houston Rodeo with special activities at school.   Clare has talked for weeks about the Kindergarten Rodeo.   They learned several songs, including "Happy Trails" and they also learned to square dance.   After their performance, we went around the gym to play 12 games.   Clare had so much fun with her friends.  She was disappointed when she saw this real-deal, pearl-snaps-and-everything Western shirt.   She cried because she wanted to look like a "real...