A Snow Pictorial

We finally had snow! Since we have had precious little rain or snow all through 2020, this two and a half inches of snow at our house were more than welcome. There was no pretty sky for a backdrop, nor unusual formations of snow caused by wind, but I did dutifully...

A Look at Several Stapeliads

I have talked about stapeliads before, but I’ve gone through a dry spell with no flowers lately. The spell was finally broken the other day, and I just had to share again!Stapeliads  can be found in a variety of countries, but this one, Stapelia lepida, is native...

St. Mary’s and the POWs

In 1910 St. Mary’s Parish was founded in the tiny town of Umbarger, Texas. The first church building St. Mary’s had was a wooden structure  on the south side of the railroad. In 1929 the present structure was built on the other side of the railroad in town and...

The Cluttered Cactus Garden in Winter

The cactus garden looks a mess in winter. The poor cholla and prickly pear do their sad droopy thing. Boxes, gallon cans, and five-gallon buckets stand upside down over plants needing protection; blankets and comforters do the same. Plants that are truly cold-hardy...