Southerners are Weird

I know I've been waxing poetic about Texas lately, what with my Bluebonnet post a few days ago. BUT...I had had had to post this.

Growing up in Houston, TX...there's a lot of differences between me and your standard Oklahoman. I drive at "Texas Speeds", am shocked that there isn't a mall on every corner, and i refer to every single carbonated beverage on the market as "Coke". As the above illustrated map indicates...it's a southern thing.

I remember the first time I felt alienated up here in Oklahoma. We were at Ron's, and our waitress asked us what kind of "Pop" we'd like.

Yikes.

I'm sure we looked at her like she'd grown a third head before we remembered out manners and politely placed our drink order. Not long after that, when we were, again, out eating...I remember asking another waitress "What kind of Coke do you have?" She seemed confused, and replied: "Um...regular and diet?"

You see, in Houston, when a waitress asks for your drink order, she says "What kind of Coke would you like? We have Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, and Coke." Of course, anyone in their right mind will order a Dr. Pepper...but that's another tale for another day.

Marty calls it "Pop". Most of my girlfriends call it "Pop". Hannah even called it "Pop" the other day. I had a full-body shudder when I heard it.

"Honey," I told her "you've inherited the Texas from me...so it's your duty to call it 'Coke.' If I hear that p-word come out of your mouth again, you're dis-inherited."

Just doin' my job.

Happiness

Heather Ross' Mendocino line of fabrics is simply fatnastic. FAT-NASTIC.

I can't even describe the wash of euphoric feelings that come over me when I see them. It's surreal. And delightful.

Playing with iPhoto

I've been taking my iPhoto editing options for a spin lately. I could tinker with saturation levels, and contrast all day (regardless of the fact that I have zero idea what those things actually mean).

This was Ethan on Easter...and I just really love the peach hues...it feels very Easter-y to me.

These were taken at my husband's grandmother's house. We call her Nanny. And I love her.

Her house backs up to the bayou...and I can't help but take some pictures of "the flats" when we're there.

I tinkered with exposure and contrast on this one...and I really really like it.

And the same picture with some funky greens going on. This one seems really ethereal to me...and it matches my office perfectly. Decorating on the cheap!

This might be my favorite self-portrait (you know, because there's such an expanse to choose from. I simply *adore* taking pictures of myself).

Just think what I could do with a better camera and Photoshop! *chills*

I miss it so baaaaad

No, this is not a horticulture blog. I've simply got Spring fever. Spring FEE-VAH.

THIS is what I'm missing right now:

Beautiful, expansive fields of Oak trees and Texas Bluebonnets. Oh how I miss Texas.

Spring was always magical in Texas...not just because of the three-inch-thick coating of yellow pollen that would be covering your car in the morning, but also for the fantastic fields of Bluebonnets that would, seemingly, pop up out of nowhere. Or...if you are a Houstonian, the fantastic highway shoulders of Bluebonnets that would, seemingly, pop up out of nowhere. They do wonders to hide and disguise the shoes, hub-caps, and trash ! (I can love Houston and be snarky simultaneously. See that?)

I really really do love these flowers, though. My mom even tried to find some to put in my wedding bouquet...in January. Yeah. We were all so surprised when she couldn't find any.

Most of my childhood memories are tinged with the deep indigo blues and whites of the Bluebonnet. They were in the background of the start of me...framing the picture, their own little character in the story of my life. They are in the pictures of me as a toddler on a trip to San Jacinto, slightly older on an excursion to Washington on the Brazos, and as an adult on a return to San Antonio for my youngest brother-in-law's Basic Training graduation.

It comforts me to know that Texas will forever be with me...alive in me...even if it is by a trailing of precious little bluebonnets.

Those of you reading (oh, that's funny. People reading this? haaaa ha haaaaa! I actually had the gall to use the plural! haa hooo heehee *wiping tears from eyes*), that are NOT Texans are probably wondering why I haven't posted any adorable childhood pictures of myself clutching reams of Texas Bluebonnets, or wearing little halos of handmade bluebonnet wreaths.

Here's why:

In Texas, you are taught from an early age (read: birth) that picking a Texas Bluebonnet, the state flower, is illegal. Should a plucking occur you are sentenced to the gallows, or some equally disasterous fate. If you even THINK about it, you've got some seriously bad juju coming your way.

Even now, after living in Oklahoma for 10 years, I can't find it in myself to pick one. I even grew a whole planter full last summer with the intent of picking EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY ONE, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I even tell Hannah to keep her grubby little hands off...'cuz girl, you don't pick the Bluebonnet. It ain't right.

Present day: I just found out that it is not, in fact, illegal to pick a Bluebonnet. My world has been shaken, and I shall never be the same. This website explains it.

You might think, new found knowledge in hand, that I could go medieval on this field. Pick the holy-crap out of it...really make up for all those years I was lied to and denied my girly right of picking and frolicking (ok, I frolicked).

But I can't.

Yet.

Everything is Blooming Most Recklessly

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr...."Spring is here, Spring is here, thank God Almighty, Spring is here!"

Wait...

That's not right...

The breath of Spring has blown right on through Oklahoma, alongside the horrid 30+ mph winds. Seriously ridiculous winds. Hailing from Houston where the wind DOESN'T blow...I'm wholly unprepared for these gusts.

I mean...give a friggin' break and let me enjoy this fantastic weather with a DRESS why dontcha?

Pistol Pete is in need of a serious paint job....poor guy. That's my next project.

Tulips...oh how I love Tulips. I bought 150 daffodil/tulip bulbs last September for super cheap at Lowe's (most had mold on them). I planted them and prayed prayed prayed that they would surface this spring. I'm notorious for killing things, and bulbs just seem like a big, fat leap of faith to me. You take this bulb, plant it, and then WAIT for, like, a million years to see if it will actually flower. Seeing as I have the patience level of a fruit fly, this was a bargain at best.

In February when I started to see little green nubs emerging from the soil my heart did a little happy dance...for real. I promptly commenced with counting the emerging nubs on a daily basis (ridiculous much?) and giving Marty the latest headcount over dinner each night.

Me: "20 babe. 20 BULBS ARE COMING UP OUT OF THE GROUND! BULBS I PLANTED!"

Him: "That's great"

Me: "BULBS I PLANTED WITH MY OWN 2 HANDS"

Him: "yeah...that's great"

Me: "20! Out of 150! That's not great...that's AMAZING!!"

Him: "yeah..amazing. We should alert the local news stations."

Me: "Funny...I thought you enjoyed sex? Apparently not."

So..as of now 143 bulbs are popping up through our nasty clay soil. SUCCESS!! And i've read that lilies/daffodils/tulips are a great investment, because they tend to at least double with each flowering. So next year our beds will be even more filled out and lovely.

Even our burning bushes (which I was 100% certain I had killed) are budding out in fantastic green leaves.

However...we did have a fatality...of the yew variety...

She's supposed to look like this...

Yikes. I'm totally reluctant to dig it up, though...as a few families of birds have begun nesting in it. The kids love that.

Emboldened by my bulb triumph's...i've added a member to the family.

An orchid. Uhhh yeah...one of the most intimidating species of flowers, the diva of the plant world, if you will, and I've convinced myself I can keep it alive and thriving. We'll see.

She really is just the perfect color of yellow for the new office, though. So I had to have her. I'll love her until she betrays me and then I'll drop her like a bad habit.

Healthy, huh?

I have horticulture issues that run deep and wide.

J Crew Love

I'm sorry, but...I love this trend. At first I thought it was ridiculous, socks with high heels and nary a pant in sight...but now; I'm hopelessly in love.

There's something so sweet about it...kind of a nerdy sweet...but that's even better. Apparently, I'm very drawn to the whole "I don't know why I love that, but I totally do" look.

I'm not sure if I have the chutzpah to pull of this look (or attempt for that matter)...but I commend those who can and do pull-it-off with success.

Marty would have an absolute field day with it, I guarantee. When he saw me in my blazer with rolled up sleeves the other night (and my aviators), he queued up the Miami Vice theme song for my benefit. Nice.

What do you think about this trend? Love it? Hate it? Would you try it?

Coming soon to a Norman near you

This event is the ONLY REASON i'll ever step foot in Norman voluntarily. I'm busy building up stock for this fantastic show held on April 25th, 11am-5:30pm. It's free...it's outdoors...and this year it coincides with the Norman Music Festival.

Good times people...good times, and FANTASTIC vendors. All of the Handmade nature. This is a great way to buy local, handmade goods...and support some of Oklahoma's greatest talent.

Check it out at the Dustbowl site.