Prairie Winds Farm

We have lived in our ranch house here in Katy, Texas for over twenty years now and I have never seen these birds, White Ibis, visit our yard.  I did have the opportunity to be blessed with their visit this past week. My sister, the Birder says that the ones with the brown feathers are immature and the white are the elder.   They flew together and moved together; slowly piercing their slightly curved, long orange beaks into the soft soil to feed. Staying less than five minutes, they flew away together.  I tried to move so close to them to get a good shot surely, I am the reason they left so soon.  This last week there have been lots of sighting of water birds up and down my street.  My neighbor had a few hundred ducks in his yard last night.  I love to be surrounded in a natural environment that allows these visitors.  There is so much construction going on around us they must have had their natural environment destroyed and are looking for food an...

Here is a photo from inside the booth number 302 looking Out onto the intersection if Lions Way and Wren St. at Market Days in Wimberly, Texas.  This last Market Day was spectacular. Can't wait to meet you!  Please stop by and say hi! On the Way home from Wimberly there was a continuous drizzle falling from the Southern Sky.   I had to stop when I saw this Rainbow in San Marcos, TX. The Glass Garden Ornaments shown below can be nestled between the foliage of your garden. Enjoy their glistening beauty as you relax on your patio. The next Market Days is Saturday, October 5 th.   The gates open at seven a.m and booths close up at four.   I have heard that the best months to shop are Spring and Fall.   Please stop by booth 302 and say hello, we would love to meet you.

If you are ever in Texas Hill Country on the first Saturday of the month March through December, consider a visit to Wimberly Market Days.   http://www.shopmarketdays.com/   Nestled beneath mighty oaks and paved streets are over 400 booths carrying merchandise of all kinds.  Antiques, vintage, glassworks, pottery, hand made furnishings, adult clothing, children's clothing, garden decor, succulents, orchids, toys, roasted kettle corn, hand made pottery, wedding items, pet gifts, masterful artworks, garden chimes, western gifts and home decor, hand made rustic tables and clean restrooms for your convenience.  Parking is convenient and cost about $5.00. We recently purchased a booth in order to sell our hand made glass garden sculptures as well as, vintage items and antiques.  Please visit  us at booth number 302  just inside entrance number three on the left. We would love to meet you and say hello.  Below are photos we took on our first da...

Yesterday I saw this woodpecker (ladderback?) in my elm tree in Katy, Texas.

Ameraucana Rooster Strutting his stuff Is this my good side??? Its been a while since I have had laying hens and a rooster.  Went to Wabash Antiques and  Feed Store in Houston  http://www.wabashfeed.com/ a few years ago and acquired an Ameraucana rooster http://www.ameraucana.org/scrapbook.html and two red laying hens.   Little did I know after taking them home that the rooster actually required a harem of hens to keep him from increased copulation with the two hens.  So... I went back and purchased four more hens and then things settled down a bit.  At sunset each day, the rooster would gather the hens up from free ranging by spreading out his wings to his sides and they would run with him into the coop.  The coop was actually an 8' by 10' hurricane fenced dog run with a screen mesh over the top. Inside the coop I placed some cinder block into two columns and made nesting shelves with hay. The soil was covered in hay so ...

Recently my daughter polished our silverplate that we are storing to later sell @ flea markets/ Canton, Fredericksburg, Wimberly.

Today I made a Lemon Icebox Pie. I got the recipe from a cookbook published for Katy First Baptist Church's 100th Centennial Celebration. Its a breeze to make and quite delicious with a warm cup of tea. Whenever I have the opportunity to squeeze fresh citrus juices and freeze them for later use I do so. I utilized the lemon juice I had previously frozen for this recipe. I cheated and used a store bought crust. Here is the recipe: 1 can condensed milk, 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice, 2 egg yolks Mix all the ingredients on low speed with elec. mixer less than one minute. Put the ingredients in a precooked pie pastry shell(400 degrees for 10 minutes) and top with three egg whites whipped until light and fluffy. Whipped Egg White Topping: The egg whites should be room temperature and to the three egg whites you add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar and two table spoons of sugar. Mix the egg whites until they form peaks and the sugar is dissolved. Once you have added the egg whites f...

These three towns will keep you busy with shopping, fanciful foods, and beautiful scenery. We love to visit in Spring and Winter. There is always lots to do. If you do visit Fredericksburg , Texas you might consider starting out your day @ the Rather Sweet Bakery off Main Street http://www.rathersweet.com/ for some delicious fresh baked muffins, scones, or quiche and hot coffee. I am constantly researching retail merchandising displays, seasonal-product, and interviewing shop owners any chance I get. I am hoping one day to have a store front or online store. I am currently reading and studying the book, Specialty Shop Retailing , written by Carol Schroeder. Its about everything you need to know to run your own store. As Roy and Dale used to sing, Happy trails to me and to you. Bed and Breakfast in downtown Gruene , Texas Crystal bottle in Gruene shop Winter berries in Wimberly , Texas Wooden planters on Main Street, Fredericksburg Mercury look alike urns and lamps @ shop in Fred...

Ever wonder what to do with those old windows you find yourself picking up from flea markets or antiques shops? Here is an idea that I got from a shop in Fredericksburg, Texas. Just nail and glue them together to form a mini greenhouse or herbarium. Set in a sunny window or a back porch to add some instant pizzazz to your decor not to mention the close access to herbs etc.

Here is a photo of a table top design that inspired me.

Dreaming of the Fall Season The only thing a gardener can do in Houston, Texas in the heat of the summer is to plan the Fall garden. By preoccupation with planning and preparation on paper, one can avoid the dreaded humidity, rain, mosquitoes and sweltering heat of summertime in Houston. Once the rain subsides and the breezes begin to gently arrive much to your surprise you tend to forget the heat of summer. I love the thought of Fall. I love the colors, the pumpkins,the colored corn , the hay-rides and the Fall blooming perennials and most of all the nights spent on the back porch sipping a warm cup of coffee. I will miss the 8:30 sunsets I have witnessed this summer. I am certain I will not miss the heat.