A Century...on Monday's Country Back Roads

This story began 3 months ago. That is how long I have been photographing the Century Plant ( Agave Americana). It is growing at the entrance gate of a farm on the Blackland Prairie, near where I live.

Have you ever seen a century plant bloom? From what I have read, it flowers once near the end of its life. The plant dies after flowering...but, the suckers from the base continue to grow.

When I first noticed the bloom stalk growing, it was already about 10 feet tall. It reminds me of asparagus growing.   

Notice there were no leaves on the trees when I first started photographing in late February.

If you cut the flower stem now, a sweet liquid called aguamiel will gather in the heart of the plant. The liquid can be fermented for a drink called pulque. If you click HERE, you can read of the many uses of the agave.

Each week, as I drove by on my trip to town, I stopped to photograph the changes. As you can see, the tree growing beside it, has now put on foliage. The bloom stalk has grown to about 25 feet tall.

It now has the beginnings of flower buds.

In the shadows of early morning, you can see how they are forming.

Several more weeks passed by, as I continued to watch the blooms.

Wasn't it worth the wait to see these beautiful blooms....

Meggie Mac

From Russia...another Show and Tell Thursday

I thought about making the title, "From Russia with Love".  Then, I remembered it was the title to an old James Bond movie.

The teacup was given to me with love... a gift from one of my daughters. It is from the Russian Lomonosov Imperial Porcelain Factory. It was founded in St Petersburg in 1744 under the decree of Peter the Great's daughter, Empress Elizabeth.

Last night, as I was putting my thoughts together for this post, I realized the teacup is the only item I have from Russia. Do you have anything made in Russia?

Searching the internet, I learned so much about this beautiful Lomonosov china. If you collect teacups or just love to look at beautiful porcelain, click HERE. You will not be disappointed!

 

The design pattern is called Forget Me Not. Even the inside rim has a delicate pattern embellished with real gold.

By sharing with you my Show and Tell Thursdays, I've had the opportunity to re-connect with some of the lovely things I have collected over the years.

My thanks to you, dear readers and blogging friends.....

Meggie Mac

Monday's Country Back Roads

TREES
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

THINK that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

A quote from Texas A & M Forest Service

 

Tree Description:

 

"A large, stately tree, commonly to 50 feet tall with a short, stout trunk of 4 feet or more in diameter, dividing into several large, twisting limbs that form a low, dense crown that can spread more than 100 feet, the limbs often touching the ground in open-grown settings."

Please click HERE to read how proud we can be of our Texas Live Oaks. I have read they can live 200 or more years....

Meggie Mac

 

Friday's Fences and a Grotto

I have noticed that most of the older cemeteries, in the area where I live, have some metal fencing. Sometimes it is only around one particular family plot. But, many times, the entire cemetery is surrounded by the old fencing.

The road, that passes by the church and cemetery, is one that I travel several times a week.

The cemetery and church are located high on a hill. To get to the next small town, I continue down this road winding around The Bluff, until I reach the valley.

I find the old gate open.....

 Showing rust, but still withstanding time.

          Walking toward the back of the cemetery, the valley below becomes more visible.

This area was settled in 1856, when families arrived from Czechoslovakia. The first marked grave was in 1866.

Most passers-by come to see the Grotto, that was built in 1929. The Grotto is a reproduction of the world-renowned shrine of miracles in Lourdes, France. If you would like to read more about the building of the Grotto, click HERE.

Photographing at the edge of the grotto, the cemetery can be seen in the background.

All seems so peaceful, as I stand there for a few moments.... taking in the view of the valley below.

Meggie Mac


I'm joining with Jan n' Jer's Friday Fences.

So This is the Porch...

Trying to decide how to arrange the furniture, on the front wrap-around porch, has not been as easy as I first thought it might be. I want to keep it looking uncluttered, but at the same time, inviting. The door, at the end of the porch goes directly into the dining room. There is a matching door at the front of the house.

Winds, out of the south, sometimes blow the plants off the porch. Of course, this makes for a much cooler space when the temperatures soar to 100 plus, in the summer.

There are five large white columns that dominate the look. It's very obvious they have been repaired over the last 130 years. I know I must keep vigil for any future repairs. They would be very expensive to replace.

I have chosen some new black rockers to go with the white wicker I brought from the farmhouse.

So far, I am using ferns to give the porch a soft, vintage look.

                       This is a flea market find, that works well beside the front door.

It is a good place to add some color with yellow petunias and maroon verbenas.

Just to the other side of the front door, I have placed another black rocker. To give the open end of the porch a more private look, I have added some lattice work.

 Eventually, the jasmine growing below, will trail on it. The summer blooms of the sweet jasmine, will be a nice fragrance for the porch.

At the back door, of my home, is a modern built deck. I am still dreaming of ideas of how to use the deck. As you can see, it was raining the day I photographed both spaces.

There have been multiple delays in finishing the small lean-to greenhouse attached to The Studio.   If you look closely, you can see I am using some re-cycled window screens....from the farmhouse.

I'm so happy to see the rain. We have been in drought conditions for quite some time.

This is just a little update on Das Kleine Haus, as things slowly move into a proper place.

Meggie Mac

Russian Black Bread at the Farmer's Market

It started out as a typical Saturday morning with a trip into town. My first stop was the Farmer's Market on the Town Square. If you would like to read more about the Town Square click HERE.

While writing this post, I realized there was no way I could tell you everything I learned, in the time I spent shopping at this small farmer's market. It is a place to buy fresh food, grown on the land that surrounds my home.

The woman who bakes the bread starts the day before, by renting the kitchen of her church. She told me she has the three ovens all going at the same time.

You see each table at the market, lined up with coolers. Can you just imagine how much work it is to gather the vegetables from the garden, store them in coolers and then load them up for the trip into town?

There is no way a super market chain can provide you with this "fresh"......

Here you are able to talk to the grower, ask questions, and share information on how to grow your own.

The market is not just limited to fresh vegetables. There is a wide variety of jellies, jams, salsa, and canned peaches and pears.

I guess a local market would not be complete without a table of fine crochet work.

When the introduction to new friends, the sharing of ideas, and the buying was over, I had an arm-load of goodies.

Can you imagine the flavor the fresh onions will give to my pot of vegetable soup?

The real prize was the loaf of Russian Black Bread. As you can see, I didn't waste anytime in tasting it.....

If you doubt how much I love the place I call home, just browse around my blog and read my stories. I have come to realize how strong and confident the women are who live in my community. They are friendly and open in sharing their knowledge and skills.

In one short hour, of shopping at the farmer's market, I met new friends,  found new recipes and how to grow bigger and better onions.....all given "freely".

Meggie Mac

Waves and Waves of Yellow

This is the time of year wildflowers cover the hills and road sides of the Blackland Prairie. Today, yellow was the predominant color for miles and miles.

The last few weeks bluebonnets, the Texas State Flower, have been the color most noticeable.

Then came the pink primrose...

As much as I would like to identify the yellow coreopsis-like flower, I could not decide on it's identity. If you would like to click HERE, you can see my dilemma. The delicate maroon colored flower is a Wine Cup.

I decided to sit down on the ground and let the wild Texas grass and flowers surround me.

At that moment, everything seemed so perfect......

Meggie Mac