Leaves, leaves, brand new leaves!

I love this time of year. Nights are still on the cool side, and daytimes are just lovely. No humidity yet. Beautiful! And trees are getting their brand new leaves after the long, cold, sometimes dreary winter. What a joy!

The first three are photos of the new leaves on my crape myrtle trees. Pretty soon they'll be all leafed out and then they'll start thinking about their beautiful pink blooms. I love these trees.



These are the new leaves on my Laurel Oak. At least that's what I think this tree is, according to Randy Lemmon's description. In the fall, its leaves turn reddish brown for about a day or two and then hang on the tree all winter, looking dead and brown. They really don't lose those old leaves until the new ones (here looking rather goldish in color) push the old ones out. These new leaves will be a beautiful bright green in a few weeks.

These are the leaves on an ash tree - I can't tell from Randy's description if it's a green ash or a white ash tree - but it's not Arizona ash, thank heaven. I'm very allergic to Arizona ash trees.

All the trees in my back yard except the crape myrtles were left in place by the builder. They are all native to eastern Texas forests, and I love them all. In addition to this oak and ash tree, there is one other oak, one other ash, two pine trees, and one cluster of trees called Yaupon Holly. I love my back yard!!

Music, music, music

We are at the beginning of springtime music performances, and they are wonderful, as usual.

I took Kira to her school's choir performance at the nearby Methodist Church, where they were holding their annual Eggstravaganza Market. Anne made it there on her way home from work, in time to hear the choir perform.

Parker's band's pre-UIL concert (dress rehearsal for regional competition) was also given last night, and Austen represented our family in the audience.

Tonight was Austen's band's pre-UIL concert, and I went to that one. Gorgeous and beautiful, as usual!

I took a photo and a video of the choir performance, but I'm still learning how to use that camera ... so I may or may not be able to add them to this post later. No camera tonight!! (I don't think Austen cares whether I have a camera or not!)

Last day of spring break!

Kira had a great time on her last day of Spring Break 2010!

Parker's project for French class

I took this photo on Tuesday morning even though Parker hadn't quite finished his project. He finished Danielle's name and lettered his, Kira's, and Austen's names at school Tuesday morning. But I think his layout is a good one. Click on the photo to make it larger (and readable!).



The little white rectangles by each person's name contain Parker's descriptions of his family members -- written in French. Once in class, he had to use this to make a presentation. That would have been fun to video!

Scant snow for us!!

Last Tuesday afternoon and evening, we got cold weather, rain, then sleet, and finally snow flurries -- but nothing "stuck." Fine with me! Cold, wet weather is one thing; cold, wet weather made colder by snow on the ground is another!

Field trip - Wunderlich Farm

On Feb 17, four of the 4th grade classes went on a field trip to Wunderlich Farm, part of the Klein, TX, Historical Foundation. The students have been studying Texas history all year, and this trip has been much anticipated!

Here's Kira before the students went into their groups for the tour.

Parent volunteers and teachers took the students in small groups throughout the grounds and read aloud the fascinating information about this museum/farm. Here, students were getting the idea what life without indoor plumbing was like!


This is a water well that the students could try to prime and pump!

All were interested in giving it a try!

Here is the smokehouse where meat was smoked/cured and stored (no refrigeration in those days, you know). Students found the branding irons most fascinating!!

Isabella is giving one of the smokehouse tools a try!

This is a manure-spreader, which was pulled by a team of horses and must have been welcomed by the boys in the family. Before these were used, the boys in each family had the job of breaking up the cow paddies by hand and spreading the fertilizer over the fields before plowing and planting.


One of the docents demonstrated the corn stripping machine - it took those kernels right off the corn cobs so they could be ground into corn meal!

And here is the grist mill, usually powered by a couple of donkeys, which ground the corn kernels into flour.

On our trip, students took turns providing the power to grind the corn!

Inside the farmhouse, in the parents' room, a docent demonstrated for the students how cotton and wool were made ready for the spinning wheel - and then demonstrated the use of the spinning wheel itself.

Even the boys were fascinated!

After we had toured all the stations, including the tractors, hen house, farm toolshed, etc., it was time for lunch. The weather was quite brisk, but thankfully, it was also sunny, so it wasn't too cold!

The restored house in the background is the Hildebrandt house. We didn't tour it, but it's clearly in very good condition.

Class Valentine Party

Kira was dressed up '50s style for her class's Valentine's Day party yesterday.



At the class party, Kira worked really hard decorating this cupcake. What a talented girl!






And a little limbo dancing, just for fun!

Some before-Christmas photos

The Christmas tree on Rockefeller Plaza. This was taken on Saturday evening, December 19th.
No, Robert isn't trying to strangle Simone! He's showing us the snow in her hair! It's also on his and Danielle's coats, in their hair, and on Danielle's hat ... everywhere. This is just inside the walkway that would take us into Grand Central where we waited for the next train to take us back to Scarsdale.
Robert and Ollie
Charlotte, snoozing in her favorite spot since Simone was a baby!
A very sacked-out Ollie!

Some Christmas photos 3

The Spandaus' decorated house! Very cheerful!!

Danielle is helping Simone write her letter to Santa in one of Macy's windows.
Simone's letter, sent to Santa!

The Empire State Building, visible from in front of Macy's entrance.

The plaza in front of Macy's entrance - there are "dripping" lights in those leaf-bare trees, but they don't even show up well in a little video. They were fun to watch, though.

Some Christmas photos 2

Simone and Danielle, working on the gingerbread house.
The finished gingerbread house!
Simone, practicing piano in preparation for her upcoming recital.
The children's nativity scene at the end of Christmas Eve services. Simone is the angel, seated second from the right.

The Spandaus' Christmas tree.

Simone just unwrapped her Christmas Eve gift - a beautiful sweater with fur around the hood.

Some Christmas photos

Robert and Simone, beginning to open things.
Simone, opening a gift card.
Robert and Simone, checking out the present Aunt Anne sent. Simone can add letters and decorations to a darling denim bag.
Simone, setting up and playing with her Littlest Pet Shop.
Simone, learning how to weave on her new little loom.