Where do I begin? The last few days have been a blur – and emotional at that. Hormones are not helping. We’ve been spread thin between doctor visits, last minute goodbyes and digging for things in the tower of boxes we live in.
What, you thought I was kidding? That is supposed to be my school room. Now you know why school can’t really happen in there as of yet.
We enjoyed a fun dinner at Pei Wei with our buddies before they left the country and spent a night at their house while they packed their last few suitcases. Here are some photos of a few of the crew:
We had lunch with Daddy in Austin at Quiznos after my doctor appointment and Morgan rode on the cement horse. (OK, I’ll admit, I asked her to do it so I could take a picture. My kids are so awesome to humor me when I have a camera in my hand. They always play along.)
Also worthy of photographing (as you can tell, I DID find my camera at Nana’s last weekend)… these wild flowers near where we live.
What is that thing? Anyone know? Looks like a purple pineapple weed.
These little blue beauties are the last three or four bluebonnets of 2007. It has been such a mild summer that they decided to bloom in AUGUST! Seeing bluebonnets in August is a rare treat. I was happy to see them, though – since I missed the show in spring.
Now I better get off of here and get back to my box tower. Maybe I can get a few stacks emptied before it is time to cook dinner tonight.
Talk to you soon. I promise, this will return to a “homeschooling” blog eventually. We just have to find our homeschool materials first!
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Elizabeth says
It looks kind of like a thistle, except for the thing sprouting out of the top!
Katey says
is it spotted knapweed??
ColoradoDreaming says
Great pics! And that pile of boxes will go down and be gone before you know it! Have no clue about the flower.
My Boaz's Ruth says
Don’t worry about it. I don’t just come here for homeschooling.
southerngirlmusings says
Have no idea of what the flower is but I love purple, so I love the flower. 1 box at a time is the best way.
Bunny Trails says
HOORAY!!! You have a camera again! Life is good. 😀
Amy says
I’m so happy that you finally have your camera back!
Heather says
elizabeth – Yeah, I scoured the weed identification web pages for Texas and California (university sites) and couldn’t find it. I also stopped in at an American site that had all the weeds but the list was so long that I got discouraged. I finally gave up and emailed the photo to a weed expert! 😉 Maybe I’ll get an answer sometime. However, the project was not a complete loss. I did get some great bookmarked native Texas plants for my landscaping project! 🙂 I can’t wait to have time to actually do some xeriscaping.
katey – No, I don’t think so. 🙁 I did look at that online. It doesn’t look anything like that. This thing is really tall (can grow up to 5 or 6 feet) and sprouts another stem out of the flower, it seems… and then another flower on top. It is really strange. I don’t think I have ever seen it before. It is like it is from another planet. 🙂
coloradodreaming – Thanks! Yeah, the boxes-shmoxes. Eventually they will be gone. We did 15 of them yesterday (or so). Another 95 left, eh?
MBR – Awww, shucks. *blushing* Thanks, sweetie.
southerngirlmusings – Yeah, the flower is rather striking. It looked great with the other interesting wildflowers it was growing with (including wild sunflowers). It is in a weed patch that is rather TALL at the end of a curb in our subdivision. I had to stop the car when I got a closer look at the flowers on that purple weed. It was so interesting that it looks so much like a pineapple. I’ll have to post one of the non-“ripe” flowers also. It is green with a hint of purple. Very pretty.
bunny – 🙂 Yeah, I’m glad to have it back. Although… I do have camera envy. My father-in-law’s camera is better than mine. I really want one that has interchangeable lenses. I’m due for a new one. We bought this digital back in 2003 and it was great back then (5mpx). However, I miss the 35mm zoom capabilities I had with my Elan II. I love photography. Wish I could get paid for it.
Amy – Thanks! I’m happy, too. I wish I had it with me during all these past weeks, but I guess I’ll have to just let go and move on. 🙂
Amy Grant says
Oh my! I thought my box pile was large but that is HUGE! I can’t find all of my homeschool stuff yet either. I can’t wait till everything is finished and I can settle down and be back to normal again!!
I am so glad you found your camera!!
Sprittibee says
You moving too? 🙂 Yeah, we only got 15 boxes done yesterday… the kids are really helping me since I’m so tired in my first trimester. I’m bribing them with chocolate. 😉 My son is even breaking the boxes down himself and taking them to the garage for me. Things could definitely be worse. I’m so glad I have my two little monsters to help me!!!
Jen says
After searching the web like crazy, I found your blog and finally the name of those purple pineapple flowers. I was curious because my sister lives in Central Texas and sent me a pic of one. Beautiful. I know this post is old, but just thought you may want to know.
LEAVENWORTH ERYNGO
Eryngium Seeds
Eryngium leavenworthii
Heather says
🙂 Yes, I actually wrote the wikipedia article about them because I had a hard time researching for them when I first discovered them. I took a recent photo of them (they are blooming now) on my instagram. 🙂 Thanks for popping in!
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Eryngium_leavenworthii (that’s my photo on the article!)
And here’s the recent picture of the stuff blooming near Austin:
http://web.stagram.com/p/261919767227995712_2144548 (it is really pretty, interesting, and usually covered with bees)