Horny Toad

A few weeks ago we had a little surprise waiting for us by the front door:  a Texas horned lizard or "horny toad."  This little fellow was so docile and sweet.  His face, skin, and feet were full of wonderful detail.

  

David had never seen one in person and was enthralled.  I hadn't seen one since an afternoon playing on my back porch in Post when I was 4.  Once an endangered species, they are now protected. We both wondered why this rare little creature picked our front porch for a rest.

 

We put him in our front garden, where he quickly disappeared, but that hasn't stopped us from pausing there everyday to see if he's still with us.

A Reminder

For the past few months I've been suffering from the most terrible attitude about where I am. Such an attitude can completely consume you, debilitating your work, relationships, and spiritual journey.  

After a very tearful conversation with a close adviser, I was reminded that I must pass through this desert before I can expect to live in greener places. "You must pass through this desert" has dominated my thoughts the past few days and has brightened my perspective.  It is no accident this came to me at the end of Lent, near the end of our desert of waiting.  

Wishing you a blessed Easter and Paschal season.

This is apple country.

A few weeks ago, we finally got to visit Apple Country Orchards.  Situated right off the road a few miles east of Idalou, I'd seen these orchards dozens of times driving the long stretch of 114 to Dallas.  Each time I passed it, the trees blossoming or sleeping empty with the season, I wanted to stop and explore.  I finally got my chance.

The 6,000 tree orchard is run by Cal Brints, who knew I was coming.  We ate a BBQ lunch with tart potato salad, smoky baked beans, and - you guessed it - homemade apple pie.  I had lots of questions for Cal, the first of which was, "What is the name of your dog?"  "Red," he said.

The apples in our country are some of the sweetest in the nation, he explained.  The constant sun concentrates the sugars in the apples, making them very, very good.  It was 100 degrees the day we went.

The weekend we visited, Cal was working on de-fruiting the trees.  All the trees we saw were thick with budding fruit.  Too much fruit means not enough room for the fruit to grow.

Since picking season hadn't started yet, I settled for their apple butter and fresh cotton blossom honey.  Choosing from all their canned goods was hard!