Friday, August 26, 2011

Long Hot Summer


Sitting on the patio with the mister sending out a cooling spray and the sun setting in front of me, dog and knitting in my lap.  Heaven!  That's where I was last evening, sitting and thinking of all the reasons I love Texas.  I didn't always--love Texas that is.  It took me a long, long time after leaving Chicago to realize the blessings this hot, parched, barren land could bring.  I closed my eyes as I thought about it and remembered one of my first feelings of love for rough and rugged Texas. 

I was driving to my office one morning about 8 years ago.  It was a snowy, cold morning and there were not many cars on the road so I was able to slow down considerably as I passed a wonderful sight.  There, beside the fence along the road, was a cowboy.  A real, honest to goodness Texas cowboy.  He was about 6 foot 2 or 3 inches, dressed in respectable cowboy gear--jeans, boots, spurs, gloves, shearling jacket with collar turned up, bandana.  His hat was pulled down low over his face against the blowing snow.  He was handsome as all get out and I watched him working on the fence until I realized I needed to get back to watching the road ahead.  If only I had been packing a camera!

When I pulled into the office parking lot I sat there for a few minutes with a big grin on my face.  Then I tramped into the office and as I stomped the snow off my feet and was greeted by several voices saying "good morning," I smiled real big and said for the first time, "I LOVE TEXAS!"

I would enjoy hearing your stories of love for where on earth you are!  I know we all have them.  Those moments when we realize we don't want to be anywhere other than where we are at that moment.  Please share!
 
What do you do when the projects you are knitting are not working out?  Yep, that's what I'm going to do to the sock yarn scarves I've just started.  I thought the beautiful colors would make up for the fact that a scarf knit in sock yarn with size 3 needles takes for--ev--er!!  I can't take it.  I've been knitting for a week and the scarves are not getting any longer.

The hot summer has dealt me a big knitting blow but I still love Texas!

6 comments:

SissySees said...

That's just awesome. I love living here in central VA, land of earthquakes and hurricanes, because generally, I call it the place with four distinct seasons. Hot summers, snowy winters, with spring and fall in bewteen...

Katherine said...

Of all the things I miss about Chicago I think I miss the seasons most. I especially miss September in Illinois. The sun shines, a cool breeze blows and there is a golden light on everything. The golden days of September.

Claudia Bugh said...

That's a lovely story! I feel like that when I'm hiking in the mountains with Simcha. I should take my camera along some time ~ it's like a real enchanted forest.

I love Chicago too ~ but much prefer living in a rural area than a city.

kathy b said...

HOw long did it take you to find that cowboy? I would have been looking from day ONE!!!! Love the image and the setting you created for us the readers...

Perfect places for me: My father's cabin in the North woods, now sold and no longer ours....It was a haven on his porch and floating down the tea colored river next to the cabin was pure heaven.....

Last week were ate outside at a lovely patio for my birthday dinner. The kids were there , as was AL's Peter and it was pure heaven. Perfect weather, incredible food, and a patio lit with little white lights. The stars above us as we had dessert just topped it all off.

finally: a cup of joe on my screened porch any morning..is heaven to me, with Troy nearby and the cats purring

Katherine said...

MrPuffy,
I would enjoy seeing a picture of you and Simcha hiking in the mountains. Beautiful lady, beautiful dog, beautiful country!!

Katherine said...

I can honestly say I have been on cowboy alert since that day.

I'm so glad your birthday dinner was so heavenly! I also love porch/patio sitting, eating, coffee drinking. I need to get me some of those little white lights.