No blogging for me recently. I was down for the count with some kind of bug, but I’m good as new (well, almost). Just ask JD, my level of humor is his gauge for how I’m feeling. If I’m till laughing and smiling, then I’m okay. If he’s doing somersaults and I don’t even crack a smile, he knows I’m sick. Fortunately for both of us, I’m on the mend – so JD, you may resume somersaulting now!

We were just discussing earlier how hard it is to believe that we’ve been here for six weeks already. It seems like ages since we traversed across the desert to get here. While that was a memorable trip, I can honestly say I will never – let me repeat – NEVER do that again. If the day comes when a move to another state is called for, I’m on a plane! We’ve had lots of fun since we’ve been here, there is so much to see and do around us and we’ve barely started exploring!

Since we’ve been here, this is what I’ve learned:

• People that use the phrase “Hotter than Hades”, have never been to South Texas during the summer. Now I am a lover of warm weather and I am not complaining one bit, but I wouldn’t mind an occasional sweater day!
• Although we live on 10 acres, the is in it’s natural state. Ladies on Avenida Gaviota, would you believe there is actually less dust here than there was in Camarillo? It could be because the doors and windows stay closed because the AC runs 24/7. I don’t know, but I like it!
• I hate scorpions. I know that hate is a strong word, but let me tell you that where I am concerned, it’s not a strong enough word. The mere sight of a scorpion can reduce me to tears in an instant – I kid you not. I’m a reasonable person, I know that I am much bigger than a scorpion, but not having had any experience I the past…ugh.
• I love my walk around in the mud boots. Granted, we are in the middle of a drought so there’s not much mud (maybe I should call them walking around in the dirt boots). I will wear them everyday, not because they are super comfortable – although they are, not to make a fashion statement – although I do believe they toughen me up a little, but so I can actually step on and kill the above mentioned scorpions which I just cannot bring myself to do so in sandals. Maybe some day I will learn to coexist with the scorpions of Boerne, TX – today is just not the day.

Now let me talk a bit about cactus and cactus needles. We have cactus on our property. Lots of it. I cant say that I’m really a fan of cactus, some of it looks nice, some not so nice. Now I can put on my walking around in the dirt boots and tromp through anything, however our poor pup does not own a pair (or two) of said boots. She loves to go out exploring and she loves to go out chasing deer. And she runs full speed, flat out, ears flailing in the wind! I have pulled out cactus needles from her without her even flinching. Today I took one out of her lower lip! I don’t know how she does it. She doesn’t whine, limp, or give any indication that something hurts her – and these needles are sharp and don’t come out all that easily. If only I had skin that thick!