In Full Bloom

 The stunning Texas Bluebonnets are in full bloom right now!! 

You can be driving down a plain old road...headed to the grocery store or just out running errands and what you see, looks like someone took a paintbrush and brushed the earth with the softest shades of blue. 

We have them in our area, but driving South or even South East of my little town, you can view what looks like a sea of blue. Bluebonnets stretch along the Texas highways....like miles of blue waves, dancing in the breeze. 

Best thing??  No tickets required.  Sam and I will be driving to Dallas on Thursday for a visit with the eye specialist and I can assure you, that along the way, we will pull over a few times to grab extra pictures of these beautiful flowers.  

They don't last forever, so it's important to grab those special photos during late March through the end of April.  

Here are some facts about our gorgeous Texas Bluebonnets..

1. They're the State Flower of Texas.

Bluebonnets proudly hold that title—and we take their beauty seriously!

2. They Bloom in Early Spring

Usually March through April… They are some of the first blooms we see.   

3. They Love the Roadsides

Those long stretches of highway suddenly become painted in blue.

4. They’re Part of Texas Heritage

Generations have grown up stopping for photos in the fields… Rattlesnakes love to slither through them and for this reason....I stay away!  "Not in our area, but further down in South Texas."  

5. There’s More Than One Type

While the common one is Lupinus texensis, there are actually several varieties across Texas.  

6. They Thrive After Rainy Winters

A good, wet season means a stunning bluebonnet year!

7. Picking Them Isn’t Illegal (But…)

It’s not actually against the law—but it’s discouraged to preserve the beauty for everyone.

8. They Close Up at Night

These little blooms rest when the sun goes down and reopen with the daylight.

9. Bees Love Them

Bluebonnets are important for pollinators—so they’re beautiful and beneficial.

10. They Pair Perfectly with Indian Paintbrushes

That mix of blue and red across a field? Pure Texas magic.

11. They Make the Sweetest Memories

Family photos, little kids running barefoot, laughter in the fields.

12. They Remind Us to Slow Down

For just a moment… pull over, step out, and take it all in.

I do have a few in my yard and each year, I have to remind Hector (my yard maintenance guy) NOT to mow them down.  I usually put up flags around them.  

Proud of our Texas Bluebonnets...

Shug....

* I know you all have been praying for Sam...please say an extra prayer for him this week.  One of his dear friends passed away on Easter Sunday.  Roy had cancer of the liver which makes this even more difficult for Sam.  The service is this next Saturday and Sam has been asked to be a pallbearer.  He needs strength physically and emotionally.  

Easter 2026.

 Even with a few empty chairs around the table, Easter lunch felt full in all the ways that matter most.  

The eight of us gathered close and we shared so much laughter.. The room was totally overflowing with goodness....and a few dogs!  Lucy, Missy, and Penny (my granddogs) were enjoying our gathering...each of them begging for food.   

The food?? Absolutely delicious!  The Desserts? They did not stand a chance....And the Egg hunt, pure joy watching the excitement unfold, ONE Egg at a time!  

I say ONE egg at a time because I did something different this year. I had ONE egg for each of them (excluding Sam and I) PLUS a Golden Egg! 

Each person could only find their own egg and If they did find someone else's egg and they told them where it was at, then I got to keep the egg that belonged to the person who shared the information!! 

Lined up ready to hunt their one egg.

 Tori....running to try to find her egg!

Oh no, no, no...they did not want to lose their egg because they knew it contained MONEY 💸....and for this reason, NO ONE helped anyone find their egg.  I was even accused of trying to pull a joke on them.  They thought I must have just told them there were some eggs hidden just so I could watch them run around looking for them.... HA, HA...this made me LAUGH...   May have to try that next year!!

Tom and Carson....they were NO where near the eggs!!  😃😆

Shanda...hunting every branch of every tree...🤣🤣

Mylee....FINALLY Found her Egg.

Trista was the last one to find her egg!!

This egg hunt lasted a good 30 or so minutes.  I'll have to give myself a pat on the back, because I really did hide them in hard places.  The golden egg...I hid it in the freezer which is located in the garage.  Carson, found The Golden Egg and was all smiles.    

Goofy Crew...

More than anything, Our Easter Sunday was filled with an abundance of Love.  WE did Miss our other 13 family members who were not able to come home for Easter...  Hopefully next year...💛💛💛

Shug...

He Is Risen

 “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here… But go, tell His disciples and Peter…’”

—Mark 16:5–7

They came expecting to tend to death…

not to witness life. These women walked toward the tomb carrying spices, their hearts still heavy with grief. There was no anticipation of a miracle—only love and duty.

But God had already gone ahead of them.

The stone was rolled away. The grave was empty.

And heaven had a message waiting.

“He is risen… He is not here.”

In one moment, everything changed. 

“Go, tell His disciples—and Peter…”

The empty tomb is not only proof of resurrection—

it is an invitation. An invitation into grace.

Hallelujah!!!

Shug....🌅.   

Saturday Morning News.

 Saturday Morning News from my little corner of East Texas...

 ☔⛱🌂☔⛱🌂☔

Well, it's Raining Again!!Not a passing shower, not a sprinkle-and-go kind of morning… but one of those steady, all-day rains that has settled in. The kind that makes you move a little slower, pour another cup of coffee, and listen to it tap against the windows like a familiar song.  I love it!!!  Of course...it's Prom Day at our local Public School and this makes me sad for the kids.  

Now let me tell you about our little "William" and his Easter egg hunt… I think it deserves its own headline.

Picture this:

He spots an egg. Success!

He sets his basket down right where he stands… very official about it.

Opens the egg.

Finds gummies (or something equally exciting).

Eats the treasure immediately—because why wait?

Then… the empty plastic egg? Tossed aside like yesterday’s news.

Basket picked back up. Off he goes to the next one.

I wonder if he actually collected any eggs… or just enjoyed a traveling snack buffet across the yard. Either way, he was living his best life, and honestly, I respect the strategy.

Next in today’s happenings…

Sam and I spotted a squirrel in the parking lot at LongHorn Steakhouse, and let me tell you—this little thing was not shy one bit. It had found itself a meal and was fully committed. No rush, no fear, just sitting there enjoying every bite like it had ordered it medium rare and even paid for it. We just stood there watching, slightly amused and a little impressed by its confidence.

And then comes a tradition that has stood the test of time…

Trista’s annual Easter Bunny Cake.

Twenty-five years she has been making these sweet little bunny cakes. Twenty-five! Her bunny cakes has seen babies grow up, holidays come and go, and still shows up every Easter like a beloved guest who never misses a visit. I love the special family traditions that we have. The kind that quietly stitches memories together year after year.   Just have to add the whiskers!!  

Last but not least.... I'll be in the kitchen this afternoon. 

I'll be preparing a meatloaf that I'll cook in the morning... Getting the Ham ready and dressed for cooking...Making a "Fruit Pizza" inspired by Carrie over at Northwoods Scrapbooks.....

And making some adorable rice crispy bunnies with the recipe coming from Mari over at My little corner of the world. 

Thank you Ladies for the recipes!!

Lots of good things happening around here.  

Blessings for you all as you prepare For Easter Sunday.