Michelle

@Eman5695 I needed to hear this. Thank you for sharing. I think God just used your story to get something across to me. ❤️ Bless you and your dogs.

“No shelter will take you if you have two dogs.” That’s what they told me the same week my job vanished and the eviction notice slid under my door. I had nowhere to go. Just Jasper and Luna staring up at me with those trusting eyes. Every call ended the same: “Come alone… or don’t come at all.” I chose them. So we lived in the car. Jackets became pillows, blankets turned into beds, and cold parking lots became our home. I took whatever temp work I could find, praying between shifts while Jasper kept watch from the front seat and Luna curled tight against me in the back. Nights felt endless. But every morning God gave us just enough strength for one more day. One rainy Tuesday, a kind volunteer saw us at a gas station. She listened without judging, then quietly shared our story. Hearts began to move. Small miracles started stacking up — gift cards, donations, and finally the keys to a tiny pet-friendly apartment. Now Jasper and Luna stretch out on our own couch instead of the backseat. Every evening I watch them sleep peacefully and whisper the same grateful prayer. Choosing my dogs never broke me. Letting them go would have. God stayed close to this brokenhearted girl and carried us through. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm

When she begged me to let her be homeschooled for high school I refused. I was worried she’d hide out in her bedroom all day and get weird. I had been a public school teacher and advocate. I wasn’t a homeschool parent. After watching yet another blood-boiling, unproductive virtual school board meeting in February 2021, I agreed to let her try it. I was nervous. I didn’t know it then, but she had already reached out to a neighbor (via snail mail) about helping out with her horses and had big plans for the future. My daughter graduated almost a year early from high school, had lots of time to earn money to pay for a car and dog, and plenty of opportunities learn more about her hobby. Today, she’s the proud owner of these guys with quite a following on TikTok (over 50k) where she shares the day-to-day routine of caring for animals. I’m not saying homeschooling is for everyone, but I encourage parents not to be too quick to dismiss the opportunities that it might open up for their children that the traditional path may not.

Don't compare yourself. You never know what they had to sacrifice.

Ya'll, I've got honey bees eating sugar water like they're on vacation in a penthouse in Miami on dad's credit card! I know they have babies to feed, but good grief, half a gallon a day. Ive never seen this before. It's a mix of 1 to 1 sugar and water.

Put four fly traps out yesterday as felt like time to start and no freezing weather forecasted. They are all full after 24 hrs but couldn’t have said I had seen many flies till now. Glad they aren’t long for reproduction

At the 45 min mark. Basting is going well. I am getting excited to eat it

New addition to contain my raspberries and blackberries

New incubator goes on lock down this evening. I read it Friday and humidity was at 105. I panicked, popped the lid, pulled the water out... Went back, reading normal. Saturday, 100... panicked, stopped, looked again. Ya'll. That's the time between turns in minutes.

I have a pretty simple rule with my little girl when she wants to do something competitive with me like a game or a race: I’ll go a little easy on her UNLESS she whines or stops trying. If she does, I absolutely crush her. No whining allowed.

I looked forward to this arriving all day! I love the fresh wood smell & the feel of the rounded sides. It’s surprisingly thick. I can’t wait to use it once I convince myself that it’s ok. Thank you for the beautiful craftsmanship! @Gallo_Woodworks @WadingSmith @LadyHollowTree

I got a lot done today and Joe that the kitchen is clean I’m going to have a little berry crumble w whip cream. Gotta eat up last years berries to make room for this years! 🤣😋

@Thillisgone Wish I was

@Michell9704767 I'm somewhat immune, somewhat

If I don't make a list, it'll never get done... Sad thing is I'll "forget" where I put this 😉

@iceberge80 @Seedsoilsunrain 😆

@Michell9704767 @Seedsoilsunrain 🤣 🤣 🤣

I am now up to 103 strawberry plants @Seedsoilsunrain !

I just wanted to take a moment to thank the unknown Traces of Texas reader who, through a random act of kindness, has saved me from endless frustration at H-E-B. You see, my whole life I have struggled to open the plastic vegetable/fruit bags that come off the rollers at the grocery store. I can't tell you the amount of agonizing frustration I've gone through over the years trying to get those dang things open. I've cussed and cursed and wondered how can it be that a company as great as HEB can't get something like that fixed. I've stood there for hours, seemingly, rolling the dang thing like a flummoxed mule and thinking all sorts of unprintable thoughts. Flash forward to Saturday. I was at HEB trying to open one of those bags so's I could buy some pears and a woman looked at me, smiled, and said ---- in a perfect Texas accent ---- "Are you Traces of Texas?" I had to admit that I was. She said, "I love your page. You know, you'll find those bags much easier if you wet your fingers by licking them." Then she walked away, smiling. I did what she said and, folks, I believe oceans parted and a Hallelujah choir sang and doves flew around and radiant shafts of sunlight plunged down from the heavens, illuminating the darkness. It worked like a charm. A CHARM, I SAY!! And I had to wonder how I could have got this far in life without ever thinking of it or anybody pointing it out. How is is possible that I am so dumb? I've stood there in the past for three minutes feeling like a dang ol' fool because I couldn't open those $@$#@ bags. And the solution was on the tip of my fingers literally the whole time. I ponder the aggravation I could have saved myself. Thank you, oh anonymous Traces of Texas reader. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You saved me. I can now go to the produce section without feeling that existential dread that has haunted my entire grocery-shopping existence. I feel like taking a video of me opening a plastic produce bag and taunting it. Maybe I'll just go up to random shoppers and ask "You have any produce bags you need opened?" 😀

@tutueme @TracesofTexas That's exactly what I do. Either wet produce or the side of my drink that's usually sweating.

@TracesofTexas I feel you. I was 60 before my brother told me during a rare group grocery run. COVID was a chore because licking fingers and later touching produce got me some side-eye. So I dampened my fingers on some wet produce before I opened the bag.

@Thillisgone Appreciate it! I always forget what I've planned to do when everyone starts bombarding me with the same daily questions and complaints.

@Michell9704767 If I run across yours in my pile, I'll let you know!

@ShereeBorger Awesome, thank you!

@Michell9704767 Seasoned black beans over sweet potatoes with a side of corn is delicious. I also add black beans to taco salad, Spanish rice and as a side to eggs for breakfast.

Lame question, but does anyone have any recipes that you don't mind sharing for using beans? We have a bunch of different kinds that we need to use, and I'm fresh out of ideas. And please don't say refried beans for tacos.